Tour d'Afrique
Template:Refimprove Tour d'Afrique is one of the longest bicycle expeditions in the world. It is organised by TDA Global Cycling, a Canadian company based in Toronto.<ref>Cyclists test their mettle in 120-day race from Cairo to Cape Town</ref> It runs each year from January to May, from Cairo to Cape Town. The participants are expedition riders who cover each day at their own pace, stopping in the villages and roadside cafes. There are about 20 rest days.<ref>Tour d'Afrique 2010 Week 1 Update</ref> The organisers prepare three meals every day and transport tents and other equipment the riders need for the night stops.
The 2003 Tour d'Afrique set a Guinness World Record for fastest crossing of Africa by bicycle and this was achieved by nine participants of the race, Michael Kennedy, Chris Evans, Dave Genders (all from the United Kingdom), Paul Reynaert (Belgium), Jeremy Wex, Steve Topham, Scotty Robinson, Andrew Griffin (all from Canada) and Sascha Hartl (Austria).<ref>Is this the world’s toughest bike race? 12,000 km across Africa by cycle</ref> The 2008 Tour d'Afrique did not cross Kenya due to the political situation and reported violence.
The race component of the Tour d'Afrique was suspended after 2017, with the event continuing as an annual cycling expedition.<ref>Tour d'Afrique race results</ref>
Historical Race Results <ref>Tour d'Afrique race results</ref>
| Start | km | Finish | Winner | First female | Countries on route |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003-01-18 | 10 967 | 2003-05-18 | Sascha Hartl, Template:AUT |
Marie-Claude Baehler, Template:SUI |
Egypt, Sudan, Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, Malawi, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Botswana, South Africa |
| 2004-01-17 | 11 750 | 2004-05-15 | Rob Van der Geest, Template:NED |
Sandra Simon, Template:AUT |
Egypt, Sudan, Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, Malawi, Zambia, Botswana, Namibia, South Africa |
| 2005-01-15 | 11 786 | 2005-05-15 | Kim Bremer, Template:DEN |
Francziska Morger, Template:SUI |
Egypt, Sudan, Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, Malawi, Zambia, Botswana, Namibia, South Africa |
| 2006-01-14 | 11 900 | 2006-05-13 | Matt Caretti, Template:USA |
Joan Louwrens, Template:RSA |
Egypt, Sudan, Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, Malawi, Zambia, Botswana, Namibia, South Africa |
| 2007-01-13 | 11 900 | 2007-05-12 | Adrie Frijters, Template:NED |
Eva Nijssen, Template:NED |
Egypt, Sudan, Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, Malawi, Zambia, Botswana, Namibia, South Africa |
| 2008-01-12 | 10 700 | 2008-05-10 | Jos Kaal, Template:NED |
Deb Corbeil, Template:CAN |
Egypt, Sudan, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Malawi, Zambia, Botswana, Namibia, South Africa |
| 2009-01-10 | 11 777 | 2009-05-09 | Allan Benn, Template:RSA |
Taryn Laurie, Template:RSA |
Egypt, Sudan, Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, Malawi, Zambia, Botswana, Namibia, South Africa |
| 2010-01-10 | 11 844 | 2010-05-15 | Stuart Briggs, Template:AUS |
Gisela Gartmair, Template:GER |
Egypt, Sudan, Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, Malawi, Zambia, Botswana, Namibia, South Africa |
| 2011-01-15 | 11 718 | 2011-05-14 | Paul Wolfe, Template:CAN |
Tori Fahey, Template:CAN |
Egypt, Sudan, Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, Malawi, Zambia, Botswana, Namibia, South Africa |
| 2012-01-14 | 11 693 | 2012-05-12 | Christian Sailer, Template:SUI |
Femke Nelissen, Template:NED |
Egypt, Sudan, Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, Malawi, Zambia, Botswana, Namibia, South Africa |
| 2013-01-11 | 11 718 | 2013-05-11 | Pascal Duquette, Template:CAN |
Bridget O'Meara, Template:RSA |
Egypt, Sudan, Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, Malawi, Zambia, Botswana, Namibia, South Africa |
| 2014-01-10 | 11 781 | 2014-05-10 | David Grosshans, Template:AUS |
Ina de Visser, Template:NED |
Sudan, Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, Malawi, Zambia, Botswana, Namibia, South Africa |
| 2015-01-09 | 11 781 | 2015-05-09 | Mike Lantz, Template:USA |
Sue Shuttleworth, Template:UK |
Egypt, Sudan, Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, Malawi, Zambia, Botswana, Namibia, South Africa |
| 2016-01-15 | 11 387 | 2016-05-14 | Douwe Cunningham, Template:NED |
Katja Steenkamp, Template:RSA |
Egypt, Sudan, Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, Malawi, Zambia, Botswana, Namibia, South Africa |
| 2017-01-13 | 11 183 | 2017-05-13 | Charles Butler, Template:AUS |
Alexandra Pastollnigg, Template:AUT |
Egypt, Sudan, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Tanzania, Malawi, Zambia, Botswana, Namibia, South Africa |
References
Literature
Hardy Grüne: Tour d'Afrique: 12 000 Kilometer Radrennen von Kairo nach Kapstadt, 2011