Ellen Anim of the Gladiators Cycling Club claimed the Elite Women’s title at the Osagyefo Criterium on Monday, holding off a tight chasing pack over six laps of the 67km course at University Farm Road, Borteyman, to win in a time of 2:11:24.00 at an average race speed of 30.594 km/h.
The annual criterium, staged by the Gladiators Cycling Club in honour of Ghana’s first President, Dr Kwame Nkrumah, has become a fixture on the country’s road cycling calendar since it was first held in 2021.
Anim’s margin of victory was slender. Subsea’s Coxson Treasure Meelubari crossed the line just five seconds back in second place, with Dynamic CC’s Mary Sunday Samuel completing the podium a further four seconds behind in third.
Gutten Cycling Team’s Abigail Tetteh rounded out the top four, 22 seconds off the pace, while Subsea’s Patience Otuodung finished fifth. All six riders who started the race reached the finish line, with Subsea’s Enerst Happiness completing the field in sixth.
I would say thank you to God and the coach for that, because he has taught me. I have made some mistakes and I’m going to correct them, I’m still training towards next year.” Ellen Anim, Elite Women’s champion
Speaking after the race, Anim was quick to credit both her faith and her coach for the win. She described a season built on correcting past mistakes and said her preparation is already turning toward next year’s edition, rather than resting on Monday’s result.
Asked about the demands of the sport, Anim was candid about the barriers facing riders in Ghana. She described cycling as an expensive discipline in which equipment costs put competitive racing out of reach for many, and one that rewards consistency and perseverance over a single strong performance.
She appealed for greater investment in the sport, arguing that with more backing, cycling and its athletes stand to go much further.
Elite Women Distance
Distance: 67km over 6 laps . Average race speed: 30.594 km/h. Starters: 6. Finishers: 6
The top three finishers shared in the race’s cash prize pool, with Anim’s victory earning her GH¢7,500. Meelubari collected GH¢4,000 for second, while Sunday Samuel took home GH¢2,000 for third.