Nuru Pardie, 48, and Burkina Faso’s Samira Zongo, 20, won the men’s and women’s titles at Ghana’s first Bahati Cycling Classic in Accra on Sunday.
Pardie, a veteran rider, completed the men’s race at the Accra Sports Stadium in Osu in 1 hour, 21 minutes and 28 seconds, taking the inaugural men’s title in a field that mixed Ghanaian regulars with visiting international riders.
Zongo covered the women’s 16.5 kilometer course in 29 minutes and 34.03 seconds, giving Burkina Faso the win in the event’s first women’s race. Abigail Mensah of the Ghana Police Service Cycling Team finished second, narrowly behind Zongo, in one of several strong showings by the police squad on the day.
The debut event drew riders from Ghana, Burkina Faso, Jamaica and the United States. It was organized by the Ghana Cycling Federation, known as the GCF, and powered by the Bahati Foundation, an American nonprofit founded by professional cyclist Rahsaan Bahati to build cycling infrastructure and opportunity across Africa.
Sunday’s race carries weight beyond its results. The Union Cycliste Internationale, known as the UCI, has registered the Bahati Classic for official ranking points starting with its 2027 edition, alongside Ghana’s national championships and the Tour du Ghana. That puts this year’s race in Accra on record as the last edition run outside the UCI’s international calendar before Ghana’s cycling scene enters fully sanctioned competition.
Shaaban Mohammed, Secretary General of the GCF, presented medals and prizes to the winners alongside members of the Bahati Cycling Race Organising Committee.
