“Bicycle Lions” in the Tour of Benin

Yesterday evening, Friday, the Moroccan national cycling team set off towards Cotonou, the economic capital of the Republic of Benin, in order to participate in the competitions of the 21st edition of its international tour and its international grand prix, scheduled during the period extending from April 27 to next May 3.

A statement from the Royal Moroccan Cycling Federation stated that this tour, which has been on the agenda of the International Cycling Union since 2022 (class 2, 2), will feature the participation of riders Salah Eddine Lamrouani, Mohsen El-Korji, Youssef Bedado, Adel El-Arbaoui, Hussein El-Sabahi, as well as the promising young man Marwan Kharbouchi, coached by national coach Mustafa El-Ammal.

Participating in the tournament, the launch of which is expected to be attended by the President of the International Cycling Union, Frenchman David Lappartien, are the teams of Benin, the organizing country (participating with two teams), Morocco, Burkina Faso, Nigeria, Eritrea, Algeria, Togo, and the Mauritius Islands, as well as two teams from Belgium and Germany.

Participants in the tour will cover a total distance of 731.82 km across 6 stages, concluding with the Grand Prix of Cotonou (108 km) on the third of next May.

It is noteworthy that the Moroccan cyclist Ashraf Al-Daghmi, who participated in the Paris Olympics in 2024, was twice crowned champion of the Benin Tour in the 18th (2023) and 19th (2024) editions.

The Moroccan continental team (Agadir Velo Propellation), which represented the national bike in the 2025 tournament, was crowned the best team in the tournament, while the young cyclist Ibrahim Al-Sabahi (22 years old), one of the creators of this achievement, occupied the runner-up position in the individual overall standings behind the holder of the yellow jersey, the South African tournament champion, Jens van Ransburg from the (Chinolo Pro Cycling) team.

Ibrahim Al-Sabahi was also crowned the best young rider and fastest cyclist in the session (hot spots).

Participation in the Tour of Benin falls within the international program established within the framework of a fruitful partnership that brings together the Royal Moroccan Cycling University with the Ministry of National Education, Primary Education and Sports, and the Moroccan National Olympic Committee, in order to enhance the presence of Moroccan cycling in continental and international events.