The eight-lap-race will comprise a closed circuit in Douala and will be going to Kumba for the very first time.

The race course for the 2016 edition of the International cycling Tour of Cameroon has been made public with two major changes. First there will be a closed circuit in Douala and the race caravan will be visiting Meme Divisional capital of Kumba for the very first time since the inception of the race.

According to the race calendar published by the cycling federation, the race will begin on March 12^th with the first lap to be run between Ayos and Yaounde covering a distance of some 128km which is a novelty I itself as the arrival will be at the esplanade of the Ahmadou Ahidjo stadium and not the 20^th May boulevard as usual.The second lap will take place the next day between Puma and the seaside resort city of Kribi some 153 km long.

On Monday March 14, the race will enter the third lap to be run between Kribi and the economic capital of Douala. This lap is going to be the longest in the race as it covers a distance of 173km. The fourth lap will be run as a closed circuit within the city of Douala over a distance of 103km. According to officials of the Cameroon Cycling federation, the close circuit is to enable sponsors have more visibility and attract more sponsors to the event since the bulk of the business community is based in Douala.

The next day, March 16^th, the race caravan will head for the town of Kumba in the South West but the race caravan will not sleep in Kumba. They will move back to Limbe where there will be a day of rest on Thursday March 17^th. The race resumes on Friday March 18^th with the sixth lap to be run between Mbanga and Bafang covering a distance of 122km.

The last but one lap will be from Bafoussam to Dschang and back to Bafoussam which is also a modification in the race course as this lap of the race used to take place between Bafang and Bafoussam or Koutaba and Bafoussam. The 8^th and last lap remains unchanged as it will take off from Bafia with the final arrival to be at the 20^th May Boulevard in Yaounde.

Meanwhile, the Cameroonian cyclists continue training for the competition after calling off their strike action with a race between Dschang and Bafoussam on Sunday, February 28^th. Ten foreign teams will be taking part in the competition namely; Bike Aid from Germany, Auvergne from France, Slovakia, Switzerland, Morocco, Rwanda, Eritrea, Cote d’Ivoire and Gabon.

In prelude to the race, there will be a training working for race referees to be conducted by the ICU international referee for the 13^th edition of the cycling tour of Cameroon, Max Michaud. The second preparatory meeting towards the race will be presided over by the Minister of Sports and Physical Education, Bidound Mkpatt, on March 2^nd.