Accra: The 7th edition of the PRURide Elite Race came to a memorable close on September 6, 2026, at the Borteyman Highway with Burkina Faso riders putting on a dominant display. From the men's race to the women's race, Burkinab¨ cyclists controlled the competition, turning PRURide 2026 into a memorable showcase of their country's cycling strength.
According to Ghana Web, more than 100 cyclists, including 21 women, took part in the event, competing in a field that brought together cyclists from Ghana, Nigeria, and Burkina Faso. Among the dignitaries at the event were Yaw Ampofo Ankrah, Director General of the National Sports Authority, Richard Akpokavie, President of the Ghana Olympic Committee, and David Kabre, Ambassador of Burkina Faso to Ghana, among others.
The 112km men's elite race belonged almost entirely to Burkina Faso, occupying eight out of ten top spots. Soumala Ibiboudo crossed the finish line first in 2:46:14.85, taking the men's overall title and the GHS15,000 winner's prize. It was an incredibly close finish, with his compatriot Saturnin Yameogo coming in just fractions of a second behind at 2:46:15.27 to take second place and GHS8,000. Ilboudo Issouf completed the all-Burkina Faso top three in 2:48:29.02, earning GHS5,000 for third place.
Ghana's strongest finish came from Emmanuel Sesi of the Police Cycling Team, who placed eighth, and Prince Kudufia of Team Epic finished tenth. The team standings also reflected Burkina Faso's strength, with AJCK (Association des Jeunes Cyclistes de Koudougou) taking first place, followed by Die Hard Cycling Club and River Park Cycling Club.
The Burkinab¨ women followed the same script. Awa Bamogo of USFA (Union Sportive des Forces Arm©es) claimed the women's overall title after completing the race in 1:56:05, taking home GHS15,000. Her USFA teammate Marie Rose Yameogo Eveline finished second in 2:00:24, earning GHS8,000, and Zongo Samiratou, also of USFA, crossed the line third in 2:00:25, taking home GHS5,000.
PRURide 2026 was about more than the elite results. The event also celebrated cyclists across different categories, including the Persons with Disability category, where Richard Yaw Attah emerged as the men's winner while Ebenezer Mensah Adjei finished second. The high standard of competition was reflected in the race speeds, with the men's 112km race recording an average speed of 40.43 km/h, while the women's race averaged 34.73 km/h.
PRURide 2026 is brought to you by Prudential Life Insurance Ghana, in partnership with the Ghana Cycling Federation, Ministry of Sports and Recreation, University of Ghana Sports and Wellness Directorate, and several other organizations.