Most of the time, Lunsar is just like any other ordinary mining town in Sierra Leone's Northern Province, but for one week of the year the place is consumed by cycling.
The Fundsmith Tour de Lunsar is more than just a bike race. Sierra Leone is one of the economically poorest nations on the planet. Unemployment figures are high, especially among the young. For many in Lunsar and across the west African nation, it's not overselling it to state that this race has provided a sense of purpose.
"With cycling, all of a sudden there's a reason to be involved," Tom Owen – who is involved in fundraising for the race – said to writebikerepeat.com of the race's impact. "There's a reason to stay here. There's something to dedicate yourself to.
"Cycling has this really powerful ability to improve people’s lives. Being a cyclist isn’t just about five days at the Tour de Lunsar; it’s about commitment, discipline and better health," Owen added.
This year's tenth edition very nearly didn't run due to financial issues. The race was saved by a crowdfunding campaign and the late addition of a new title sponsor, Fundsmith. For 2024, a second stage was added to the women's race through sponsorship from Zwift, making it the only women's stage race in west Africa. There was also a one-day race for junior men alongside the four-stage men's elite race.
Although not on the UCI calendar, the Fundsmith Tour de Lunsar has become one of the most well-known events on the African cycling scene, thanks in part to the striking images that come from the race each year. It's the exuberant support of the fans, riders giving their all in donated kit and the lush green Sierra Leone landscape that set apart the visuals of this race from any other.
Oskar Scarsbrook was on the ground to capture the scenes. Here are our favourite photos.
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(Image credit: Oskar Scarsbrook/SWpix.com (t/a Photography Hub Ltd))
The junior men awaiting the start of their criterium race, sponsored by two Sierra Leonean businesses - AFRICAP Apparel and FAMBUL
(Image credit: Oskar Scarsbrook/SWpix.com (t/a Photography Hub Ltd))
Time to get in some last-minute fuel before the racing starts
(Image credit: Oskar Scarsbrook/SWpix.com (t/a Photography Hub Ltd))
Some of the riders were sporting kit previously worn by professional riders
(Image credit: Oskar Scarsbrook/SWpix.com (t/a Photography Hub Ltd))
Several riders were racing in old Bora-Hansgrohe kit which was donated by Le Col.
(Image credit: Oskar Scarsbrook/SWpix.com (t/a Photography Hub Ltd))
The women's stage race, sponsored by Zwift, is a rare opportunity for female African riders to race a multi-day event
(Image credit: Oskar Scarsbrook/SWpix.com (t/a Photography Hub Ltd))
Will a Tour de France winner come out of Sierra Leone in the future?
(Image credit: Oskar Scarsbrook/SWpix.com (t/a Photography Hub Ltd))
The announcer gets the racing started
(Image credit: Oskar Scarsbrook/SWpix.com (t/a Photography Hub Ltd))
Fans getting the best view of the riders as they start
(Image credit: Oskar Scarsbrook/SWpix.com (t/a Photography Hub Ltd))
The peloton assembles
(Image credit: Oskar Scarsbrook/SWpix.com (t/a Photography Hub Ltd))
The junior men kicked off the racing on Friday
(Image credit: Oskar Scarsbrook/SWpix.com (t/a Photography Hub Ltd))
No time for the elite men to stop for a snack
(Image credit: Oskar Scarsbrook/SWpix.com (t/a Photography Hub Ltd))
The women's race crosses a bridge as people wash clothes in the river below
(Image credit: Oskar Scarsbrook/SWpix.com (t/a Photography Hub Ltd))
A mechanical issue for one of the Team Flames riders
(Image credit: Oskar Scarsbrook/SWpix.com (t/a Photography Hub Ltd))
The men's peloton are strung out
(Image credit: Oskar Scarsbrook/SWpix.com (t/a Photography Hub Ltd))
A member of the women's Lunsar Cycling Team in the peloton
(Image credit: Oskar Scarsbrook/SWpix.com (t/a Photography Hub Ltd))
It's clear to see what this event means to the community in and around Lunsar
(Image credit: Oskar Scarsbrook/SWpix.com (t/a Photography Hub Ltd))
The leading group in the women's race
(Image credit: Oskar Scarsbrook/SWpix.com (t/a Photography Hub Ltd))
An acceleration by Ntui Bassey from Team Access, who made the trip from Nigeria to Sierra Leone
(Image credit: Oskar Scarsbrook/SWpix.com (t/a Photography Hub Ltd))
The women's peloton move through the lush countryside
(Image credit: Oskar Scarsbrook/SWpix.com (t/a Photography Hub Ltd))
A rider awaits assistance for a mechanical issue
(Image credit: Oskar Scarsbrook/SWpix.com (t/a Photography Hub Ltd))
Attacks fly in the elite men's race
(Image credit: Oskar Scarsbrook/SWpix.com (t/a Photography Hub Ltd))
The junior peloton raced laps around the town of Lunsar
(Image credit: Oskar Scarsbrook/SWpix.com (t/a Photography Hub Ltd))
The women's race was dominated by three riders from the Benin national team
(Image credit: Oskar Scarsbrook/SWpix.com (t/a Photography Hub Ltd))
Riders from Team Flames on the front of the junior peloton
(Image credit: Oskar Scarsbrook/SWpix.com (t/a Photography Hub Ltd))
Ibrahim Jalloh of Lunsar Cycling Team in the Zwift Intermediate Sprint jersey on stage two
(Image credit: Oskar Scarsbrook/SWpix.com (t/a Photography Hub Ltd))
Road furniture can be a bit different in Sierra Leone
(Image credit: Oskar Scarsbrook/SWpix.com (t/a Photography Hub Ltd))
Young Sierra Leonean Blessing Jabbie (Kono Cycling Team) chases after the three leaders from Benin
(Image credit: Oskar Scarsbrook/SWpix.com (t/a Photography Hub Ltd))
Tenesie Dixon of Team Flames on the attack on stage two
(Image credit: Oskar Scarsbrook/SWpix.com (t/a Photography Hub Ltd))
A rider from the Nigerian Ilubirin team on the attack
(Image credit: Oskar Scarsbrook/SWpix.com (t/a Photography Hub Ltd))
Tenesie Dixon celebrates his stage two victory
(Image credit: Oskar Scarsbrook/SWpix.com (t/a Photography Hub Ltd))
Recovery time for overall winner of the men's race, Emmanuel Bright of Nigeria and Team Ilubirin
(Image credit: Oskar Scarsbrook/SWpix.com (t/a Photography Hub Ltd))
It was a successful race for the Beninoise riders
(Image credit: Oskar Scarsbrook/SWpix.com (t/a Photography Hub Ltd))
Stay cool
(Image credit: Oskar Scarsbrook/SWpix.com (t/a Photography Hub Ltd))
Ibrahim Jalloh celebrates keeping hold of the Zwift Intermediate Sprint jersey
(Image credit: Oskar Scarsbrook/SWpix.com (t/a Photography Hub Ltd))
Men's stage two winner Tenesie Dixon finds a cool place after the race
(Image credit: Oskar Scarsbrook/SWpix.com (t/a Photography Hub Ltd))
Abu Bakarr Kamara of Lunsar Cycling Team celebrates his win in the junior race
(Image credit: Oskar Scarsbrook/SWpix.com (t/a Photography Hub Ltd))
The victorious Beninoise trio of Hermionne Ahouissou, Yetonde Raimatou Kpovihouede and Georgette Vignonfodo. Ahouissou took the overall win
(Image credit: Oskar Scarsbrook/SWpix.com (t/a Photography Hub Ltd))
The huge crowd awaits the podium ceremony
(Image credit: Oskar Scarsbrook/SWpix.com (t/a Photography Hub Ltd))
The junior men's podium
(Image credit: Oskar Scarsbrook/SWpix.com (t/a Photography Hub Ltd))
Tenesie Dixon is held aloft by the local fans. He became the first Sierra Leonean winner of a stage of the men's race since 2022.
Dan is a freelance cycling journalist and has written for Cyclingnews since 2023 alongside other work with Cycling Weekly, Rouleur and The Herald Scotland. Dan focuses much of his work on professional cycling beyond its traditional European heartlands and writes a regular Substack called Global Peloton.
