Issy-les-Moulineaux, 14^th of September 2006

Born in 1987 thanks to the will of some pioneers wanting to see competition cycling improve in Africa, the Tour du Faso has slowly become the reference race on the continent. For its 20^th edition, the competition will welcome between the 25^th of October and the 5^th of November twelve African teams, a record for the event.

The Burkina supremacy re-established on the Tour since the victories of Abdul Wahab Sawadogo in 2004 and Jérémie Ouedraogo in 2005 could well be questioned by one of these nations. The Egyptians, winners of the 1999 edition will indeed be back in Ouagadougou, while the riders from Cameroon and Angola, fierce opponents for the local men during the last two years will be hoping to continue their progression. Riders from Togo, Benin and Niger will join together inside a mixed team and Zimbabwe, a newcomer on the Tour could surprise quite few.

The battle could also be won by the European teams having made the trip. Faithful to the Tour du Faso since 1996, Belgium often present on the final podium will this time be hoping to capture the title. Four French teams will also come with high expectations. Japan that will have a full team for the second time will be chasing a first stage success.

THE ELEVEN STAGES

1.	Ouagadougou > Manga	100 km		7.	Bobo-Dioulasso > Banfora	85 km
2.	Manga > (Pô) > Tiébélé	121 km, including 26 on a dirt track		8.	Criterium de Bobo-Dioulasso	121 km: 12 x 10,1 km
3.	Pô > Ouagadougou	140 km		9.	Boromo > (Sabou) > Koudougou	115 km including 26,5 on a dirt track
4.	Boussé > Ouahigouya	129 km, including 1,7 on a dirt track		10.	Linoghin > Pouytenga	96 km
5.	Yako > Ziniaré	150 km including 11 on a dirt track		11.	Loumbila > Ouagadougou	88 km, including 12 x 4,5 on a circuit
6.	Kokologo > Boromo	136 km

LES 18 ÉQUIPES ENGAGÉES

Angola, Belgique, Bretagne, Burkina Faso (A, B, C), Cameroun, Côte d'Ivoire, Egypte, Gabon, Japon, Mali Sarthe, Sénégal, Vélo Club de Roubaix, Yvelines, Zimbabwe, et une équipe mixte Bénin-Niger-Togo.


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