Dominant Pitstop Lagos complete podium lockout on stage 1
Stage 1 of the 2023 Science in Sport Tour de Lunsar saw the riders take on a 102.5km route from Lungi Airport to Lunsar. As they rolled off, each of the riders knew they had the opportunity to create history by claiming the Science in Sport yellow jersey on Sierra Leonean independence day.
As the flag dropped, Team Pitstop Lagos put the hammer down in an attempt to make the race as difficult as possible. This resulted in a four-rider group made up of Bassey Ntui, Innocent Emmanuel and Preye John Dede of Pitstop getting up the road. American rider Jack Duncan of Team Mike’s Bikes also made the cut.
Duncan faced a barrage of attacks from his breakaway compatriots in the early part of the race as they looked to shake him off their tail. Eventually the elastic snapped and the trio from Nigeria set off in search of a podium lockout. By this point in the stage, the peloton were well down and had to settle for the minor placings.
In the end a three-up sprint for the line led to Dede taking the victory and with it the first Science in Sport yellow jersey of the race. The Nigerian now holds a healthy lead in the overall standings; however anything is possible over the following three stages.
Alongside the general classification there are two other competitions to fight for at this years race, namely the Marampa Mines KOM and the Zwift points classification. In the battle for ‘polka-diamond’ Preye John Dede of Pitstop Lagos took maximum points on the days climb at Malaykuray Junction. At the sprint it was Innocent Emmanuel who crossed the line first to take the inaugural Zwift orange jersey.
Stage Results
1. Preye John Dede – Pitstop Lagos
2. Innocent Emmanuel – Pitstop Lagos
3. Bassey Ntui – Pitstop Lagos
Jersey Wearers
Science in Sport yellow jersey – Preye John Dede – Pitstop Lagos
Marampa Mines polka-diamond jersey – Preye John Dede – Pitstop Lagos
Zwift orange jersey – Innocent Emmanuel – Pitstop Lagos
By Luke Williams
GALLERY
Check out all the best images from today’s stage courtesy of our photographers on the ground, Matt Grayson and Abdul Hamid Kanu
