Been on a WBL? Know what beef is? Don't kid yourself: Introducing the Benin National Team
Like any group ride, the cyclists gathered and began talking equipment.
"Why is the new guy wearing kneepads?"
"…where are your rear brakes?"
"Well, my front ones works fine."
Many of the bicycles were donated by a Spanish NGO in 2005, although most of the equipment dates from the early 1990's. It's clear their bikes are treasured and have seen heavy use.
Amongst the riders who congregate are three members of the national team – athletes who've competed abroad in the Tour du Faso, the Tour du Togo, or the West African CEDEAO Tour. Robert Kponha proudly sports his combativity jersey from the Tour du Togo. Alexandre Zotogbé is a scrappy all-rounder. Augustin Amoussouvi's thick calves identify him as the sprint star of the team.
Unlike the youth of Europe who balance cycling with academics, most of the athletes on the national team don't attend school. Some of them completed elementary school, but they all work full time to feed their families. Parents don't often encourage children to pursue athletics because there's no money in sports, and children must contribute to the household.
....Augustin faced a steep learning curve to handle skinny tires and negotiate a fast-moving peloton. His first international race proved overwhelming and he abandoned in the first stage. Thereafter, Augustin gained confidence and won numerous domestic competitions. Finding his way back to the ranks of Benin's A Team, he now shows the grit of a tough sprinter and placed 8th against elite Europeans in a stage of the 2009 Tour du Faso....
Like any group ride, the cyclists gathered and began talking equipment.
"Why is the new guy wearing kneepads?"
"…where are your rear brakes?"
"Well, my front ones works fine."
Many of the bicycles were donated by a Spanish NGO in 2005, although most of the equipment dates from the early 1990's. It's clear their bikes are treasured and have seen heavy use.
Amongst the riders who congregate are three members of the national team – athletes who've competed abroad in the Tour du Faso, the Tour du Togo, or the West African CEDEAO Tour. Robert Kponha proudly sports his combativity jersey from the Tour du Togo. Alexandre Zotogbé is a scrappy all-rounder. Augustin Amoussouvi's thick calves identify him as the sprint star of the team.
Unlike the youth of Europe who balance cycling with academics, most of the athletes on the national team don't attend school. Some of them completed elementary school, but they all work full time to feed their families. Parents don't often encourage children to pursue athletics because there's no money in sports, and children must contribute to the household.
....Augustin faced a steep learning curve to handle skinny tires and negotiate a fast-moving peloton. His first international race proved overwhelming and he abandoned in the first stage. Thereafter, Augustin gained confidence and won numerous domestic competitions. Finding his way back to the ranks of Benin's A Team, he now shows the grit of a tough sprinter and placed 8th against elite Europeans in a stage of the 2009 Tour du Faso....
[img]http://cdn.media.cyclingnews.com/2010/03/31/2/benin_cycling_history_14_of_14_600.jpg[/img]