Marwani wins the fourth stage of the Benin Tour.

Moroccan cyclist Salah Eddine Marouani was crowned the champion of the fourth stage of the 21st edition of the Tour of Benin, which took place yesterday, Friday, between the cities of Dasso and Porto-Novo, with a total distance of 127.8 km. Meanwhile, the Moroccan team strengthened its lead in the overall team standings, and Youssef Badadou maintained third place in the individual overall ranking.

A statement from the Royal Moroccan Cycling Federation indicated that Marouani managed to win the fourth stage thanks to his final sprint, completing the race in a time of 2 hours, 54 minutes, and 25 seconds, ahead of Burkinabe Boda Wahabo and Eritrean Molughita Yafit (same time).

The national team reinforced its lead in the overall team standings with a total time of 40 hours, 54 minutes, and 36 seconds, ahead by 1 minute and 24 seconds of the Eritrean team, which moved up to second place, while the German "Bike" team dropped to third place, 2 minutes and 9 seconds behind the leader.

The German team "Hokar Factory" is in fourth place (2 minutes and 29 seconds behind), and the Belgian team "Klooz Pal Enzo" is in fifth place (2 minutes and 44 seconds behind), while the Mauritius team is sixth (2 minutes and 55 seconds behind), and the Algerian team is seventh (5 minutes and 15 seconds behind).

In the individual overall ranking, Youssef Badadou maintained third place, only 32 seconds behind the yellow jersey holder, Latvian Kristians Bilehofs (from the German Bike Aid team), while Mohsen Al-Kourji held fifth place.

The final fifth stage will take place today, Saturday, between Zokbodomi and Cotonou (128.7 km).

It is worth noting that the Moroccan team, participating in the tour since 2022 as part of the International Cycling Union's agenda (category 2.2), consists of cyclists Salah Eddine Marouani, Mohsen Al-Kourji, Youssef Badadou, Adel Al-Arbawi, Al-Hussein Al-Sabbahi, in addition to the promising young talent Marwan Kharboushi, under the guidance of national coach Mustafa Al-Amal.