The 15th edition of the cycling race christened Grand Prix International Chantal Biya will kick off today in Douala with some 13 teams from Europe and Africa taking part. The race to run up to Sunday October 18 will begin with a prologue along the major alleys of the economic capital over a distance of two kilometers.

Tomorrow, there will be the criterium which will take off from the annex of the reunification stadium in Douala and back passing through the University of Douala, the Ndokoti junction and BP Cité covering a distance of 7.2 km to be done fifteen times by every cyclist before the race Caravan moves over to Yaounde.

While the prologue and criteria will be taking place, the Douala city dwellers will be treated to diverse forms of cultural animation at the Velo village erected specially for the occasion. On Friday, October 16th, the first lap of the race will take place between Yaounde to Ebolowa while the second lap will be between Zoetele and Meyomessala passing through Sangmelima on October 17th. The last lap will be between Samgmelima and Yaounde on October 18th.

Meanwhile Egypt has announced its withdrawal from the competition and almost immediately, Burkina Faso declared their intention to compete in the race maintaining the number of participating teams at 13. The others are France, Switzerland, Netherlands, Burkina Faso, Cote d’Ivoire as well as Cameroon with two teams.

The Cameroonian athletes are; Tekou Damien, Mbah Hervé Raoul, Guewa Clovis, Tella Arthuce, Lontsi Yannick , Yemeli Herman, Ngeh Kwefi , Kamzong Abossolo Clovis, Nguimkeng Franklin , Fozing Robert, Simo Sando Dieunedort and Nzeke Géremie Francis. Yesterday, the president of the federation granted the last press conference prior to the kick off of the event.