LOME, May 19 (Xinhua) -- The 31st International Cycling Tour of Togo began on Tuesday, with organizers aiming to raise the race's regional profile and secure a place on the international calendar of global governing body UCI.
Teams from Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Cote d'Ivoire, Ghana, Nigeria, Benin, Belgium and Mali are competing alongside Togo's A and B national teams, while a mixed squad named Red Africa completes the lineup for this year's edition.
Riders will cover more than 530 kilometers over five stages across several major cities. The route includes stages from Kante to Kara (113.7 km), Bassar to Sokode (70.2 km), Atakpame to Badou (90.4 km), Amlame to Tohoun (150.6 km), and a final 109.9-km stage from Aneho to the Lome Circuit.
Several classification jerseys will be awarded during the race, including the yellow jersey for the overall leader, the green jersey for the points leader and the polka-dot jersey for the best climber. The "Asky" jersey will recognize the best young rider, while the "Napoleon Hotel" jersey will reward the top-performing Togolese cyclist across all stages.
Speaking in Lome ahead of the race, UCI commissioner Laurent Bezault said his visit would focus on evaluating the tour's organization ahead of possible inclusion on the governing body's international calendar.
Bezault added that the assessment would examine security, logistics, accommodation and compliance with international regulations.
According to the Togolese Cycling Federation, gaining UCI recognition would represent a major step toward professionalizing cycling in Togo and the wider sub-region. FTC president Djabigue Baitian also expressed hope that Togolese riders could secure at least one stage victory during the event.
