The 11th edition of the Grand Prix Chantal Biya international cycling race will take off today at the 20th May boulevard in Yaounde with the prologue to determine who to wear the yellow jersey. A record number of 70 cyclists drawn from eleven cycling clubs from Europe, Asia and Africa will be taking part in the competition this year. The bulk of the competitors come from Africa which has seven clubs notably from Cote d’Ivoire, Gabon, Burkina Faso and Cameroon. Europe follows suite with three teams from three countries namely, France, Switzerland and Slovakia. Asia is represented by one country; Japan.
The race covering a distance of 485km will be run as usual between Meyomessala and Yaounde passing through Ebolowa, Zoetele and Sangmelima. After the prologue today, the first lap of the race will take place tomorrow between Yaounde and Ebolowa. On Saturday the race caravan will be transferred to Zoetele for the second lap to Meyomessala passing through Sangmelima. The third and last lap of the race will take place on Sunday, October 02, 2011 between Sangmelima and Yaounde.
Cameroon is represented in the competition by three clubs namely; SNH, Cyclosport and Douala Velo Club. According to the coach of the national cycling team, Jean Philippe Duracka, the preparation of Cameroonian cyclists for the competition has been going well in terms of physical fitness, numbers and equipment. He said the cycling lions are ready to measure up to the counterparts from across the world and win, since their objective is to win. Martinien Tega from the SNH Velo Club is the current defending champion and will be seeking to repeat his exploit of the 10th edition.
To make sure the competition takes place hitch-free officials of the Cameroon Cycling Federation have held four preparatory meetings and each time the president of the federation, François Njele insisted on professionalism from the organising committee members. “There will be no room for error”, he said. The Chantal Biya International cycling race was instituted in 2001 and has grown to attain international acclaim as it features on the list of competitions in the calendar of the International cycling Union. The race is named in honor of Chantal Biya, the First Lady of Cameroon as wife of President.
