Embark on the Adventure of a Lifetime from Cairo to Capetown.
On January 14th, 2006, in the gentle mist of the African dawn, a group of intrepid and strong-willed men and women will begin a journey of both body and soul as they pedal their way through an epic adventure like no other. Welcome to the fourth annual Tour d'Afrique, an 11,900-kilometer (7,438-mile) bicycle race/expedition across the world's most exotic and alluring continent.

The Cairo to Cape Town route will challenge you physically and mentally like no other - and reward you as you have never been rewarded before, with scenes of unsurpassed splendor and an incomparable feeling of accomplishment.

The mandate is threefold: first, to create an athletic event for both amateurs and professionals; second, to foster international goodwill; and third, raise funds to promote bicycles in Africa.Tour d' Afrique Foundation.

TRAVELS AND TRIBULATIONS

Racers will start each day’s stage at the signal from the race director. The pace is fast, and each racer contests every day of the 99 stages of the tour. It is a exceptional and epic race requiring unique equipment, intense motivation, and the constant struggle to keep yourself and your equipment in top working order in, sometimes, unfavourable conditions.

Traveling through 10 countries in all, you will cycle past ancient temples, through game reserves teeming with wildlife, across the foothills of legendary Mount Kilimanjaro, alongside the rugged and biblical landscape of Ethiopia's Simian Mountains, and the edge of Botswana's magnificent Kalahari. (See Route).

FACTS AND FIGURES

The program features approximately 99 cycling days, averaging 120 km (75 miles) each, broken up by 20 rest days and a day of travel for a total of 120 days in Africa. Support trucks will collect your equipment and travel ahead to set up camp.

Individual entry fees are $8,800 US. This will cover your basic needs throughout the tour. Participants will be responsible for their own transportation to and from Africa.

Those who complete the event will savor the triumph of conquering the longest and most difficult bike race in the history of sport. For some, they also seek certain additional classification such as reaching EFI status, winning a stage, winning a section or country, or winning the entire tour in either the men’s or women’s category. Commemorative festivities and celebrations, special medals await victorious cyclists. We look forward to celebrating with you.

PARTICIPATION AND ELIGIBILITY

There are four types of participants:
1. Racers: open to individuals who plan to go all the way.
2. Expedition riders: will cover the distance at their own pace.
3. Relay teams: 'corporate' or 'club' teams where each team member races a section of the trip and passes the "baton" to his teammate at predetermined stops.
4. Sectional riders: will ride a section of the trip

The Tour d’Afrique race and expedition are open to any individuals over the age 18 who have undertaken a medical examination to ensure that they are physically capable of partaking in this journey. Individuals under 18 must provide release from their legal guardian in order to partake, and no one under the age of 16 years is eligible.