By Leocadia Bongben
After the Mauritius Island last year it is Cameroon's turn to host the third edition of the African Continental Cycling Tour.
The first edition three years ago was hosted by Egypt and the choice of Cameroon determined a year ago, was informed by geographical location and the results recorded so far by Cameroonian cyclists.
As part of preparations of the tour, the National Cycling Federation and Co-organisers, GRANDJEAN Sports Organisation, have said during the tour, both female and male teams would take part.
However, it is unfortunate that Cameroon would not present a female team due to problems beyond its control.According to one of the officials of the organising committee, Philippe Grandjean, one of the objectives of the African Tour is to encourage female cyclists.
The tour billed from November 8-11at the Yaoundé Conference Centre consists of the 7.5 km closed circuit race, from the Conference Centre towards the entrance, Cross Junction, the roundabout at the Presidency, the Mosque, Boulevard John Paul II back to the Conference Centre.
The closed circuit would have 10 rounds for females a total of 74 km and 18 rounds for men, 133 km. The tour would also feature the individual watch controlled race, two rounds, 14.8 km for females in one or two groups of 20 and three rounds for men, 22. 2 km in two or three groups of 30.
Though there is no minimal condition to be fulfilled for selection, a training session would be organised during which the best eight and two on the reserve would be selected.Each country would conduct its selection but priority is given to licensed cyclists. Ten countries have confirmed their participation, Cameroon, South Africa, Rwanda, Zambia, Morocco, Ivory Coast, Angola and Eritrea amongst others.
About six countries are yet to confirm their participation, Sierra Leone, Zambia, Malawi, Senegal and Gambia, with new entrants like Sao Tome and Principe studying the modalities of participation.In order to check doping, a commissioner from Holland has been designed to ensure medical control, Philippe Grandjean said.
He said the Africa Tour is a qualifying ticket for the Olympic tour in Peking in 2008, and the World Cup in Italy in 2008 followed by Switzerland in 2009.
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