Chantal Biya Int'l Cycling Tour: Mauritius Island's Mayer Henri wins first lap.

David Kaško of Slovakian team, Dukla Banska Bystrica and Stijger Frank of Holland’s Global Cycling Team ranked second and third respectively after completing the race in two hours, 16 minutes and 39 seconds.

Kuere Nounawe Rodrigue Eric and Clovis Kamzong Abossolo of the National Hydrocarbons Corporation’s SNH Velor Club, finished fourth and fifth respectively. 

The Cameroonian pair secured the top five finish after also covering the 101km-long race across in two hours, 16 minutes and 39 seconds.

Lap two of the competition will take place this Thursday. The 99.8km-long series will be staged across Nkoteng, Nanga and Minta, all in the Upper Sanaga Division of the Centre Region.

The 2025 race effectively flagged off yesterday and is scheduled to roundup on Sunday September 14. 

Before the start of the cycling championship proper, the competition was launched on Tuesday September 8 by the Minister of Sports and Physical Education, Prof Narcisse Mouelle Kombi. 

Cameroon is represented in the 2025 showpiece by over 14 cyclists who are spread across the Cameroon national cycling team, the SNH Velor Club and rising Cameroonian cycling team, Espoir du Mboa.

Team Cameroon is chasing its first victory in the competition in nearly 10 years. The country last emerged victorious in the competition in 2017 when cycling legend, Clovis Kamzong Abossolo sprinted to victory to become the first Cameroonian to win the event since Yves Ngue Ngock’s success in 2014.

Cameroon’s race to reclaim the prestigious distinction is facing challenge from cyclists from some six European and African countries. Among them is a group of 10 cyclists from France which fielded two clubs and other competitors from Slovakia, the Mauritius Island and Cote d’Ivoire. 

By Dewah Fabrice & Ngeh Pellagie, Journalism students on internship

This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3561 of Thursday September 11, 2025