Stage Two
20 April 2024
Start / Finish: Lunsar
Midpoint: Makeni
Distance: 135.2km
Elevation: 1,100m
The longest stage of this year’s race, this out and back route to Makeni also contains the most climbing – and the leader at the end of the stage might very well win the overall.
On the way out to Makeni, the intermediate sprint comes 64.5 kilometres in at the village of Masongbo. The rider will then make a circuit of the city centre, before heading back to Lunsar.
The climb on this stage is at 100km.
Stage two map and profile
Race director, Karim Kamara says:
“A difficult stage, the climb and sprint come a very long way out from the finish, so we may see more than one breakaway.”
2022
It was on this exact stage in 2022 that eventual race winner Ibrahim Jalloh soloed away to take a spectacular stage win.
Makeni
Makeni is the fifth largest city in Sierra Leone and is the capital of the Bombali District. It is also home to the University of Makeni, the largest in the country and is one of the region’s central trading hubs. Kerels and rice are mainly farmed in Makeni and are the city’s main exports. It is best known for Gara fabric, made through a process similar to tie-dyeing which creates unique colourful garments.
