The third edition of the Chantal Biya International Mountain Bike Race and the inaugural Bagofit International Business Week 2026 were officially launched on Tuesday, May 26, 2026, during a high-profile press conference in Douala.
The dual initiative was presented by Joseph Lé, Cameroon’s Minister of Public Service and Administrative Reform, who also serves as the event’s promoter. Following an initial mobilization campaign in Yaounde on April 30th, the minister strategically chose the nation’s economic capital to engage media, corporate partners, and economic stakeholders.
The overarching goal of this combined sports and business gathering is to aggressively market the tourism, mining, agricultural, and forestry wealth of eastern Cameroon to a global audience.
The simultaneous organization of the Bagofit International Business Week stands as the major innovation for the 2026 edition, transforming a traditional race into a broad economic fair. The President of the Eastern Regional Council, Alphonse Wouamané Mbélé, strongly advocated for the region’s immense potential, noting that its vast territory of nearly 109,000 square kilometers holds rich, largely untapped resources.
Emphasizing that “there is plenty of space for everyone,” regional leaders and event organizers are actively inviting both national and foreign investors to explore these fresh commercial landscapes and establish sustainable development projects in Central Africa.
To secure substantial international backing, the event has drawn critical partnerships from cross-border stakeholders. Joël Nkouémo, Special Advisor to the President of the Central African Republic, confirmed his country’s strong support by announcing the donation of 40 additional mountain bikes to complement the Cameroonian federation’s existing stock, alongside promising the arrival of a robust delegation of Central African entrepreneurs.
Concurrently, Fabrice Funiba, the president of Turcaba, expressed his commitment to mobilizing international investors specifically around the natural and mineral assets of the East, ensuring the business week acts as a legitimate platform for economic promotion.
On the athletics front, Honoré Yossi, President of the Cameroonian Cycling Federation, detailed the rigorous competitive frameworks designed for the event, declaring that “cycling is a driver of the economy.” The competition will features three distinct categories—Veterans, Juniors (aged 8 to 13), and Seniors—navigating the challenging Bagofit circuit, which is widely renowned for its rugged terrain, dense forest sections, and laterite tracks. While Veterans will tackle a 12-kilometer course, the Senior racers will face a grueling six-lap trial totaling 72 kilometers, with multiple millions of CFA francs in cash prizes and sponsorships awaiting the top performers.
Scheduled to take place on August 7th and 8th, 2026, in the town of Bagofit, the international gathering expects to host sports delegations and corporate representatives from some fifteen countries, including Morocco, Ivory Coast, France, Senegal, and the Central African Republic. By seamlessly merging high-stakes athletic endurance with targeted corporate networking, the organizers aspire to elevate the race beyond standard sports entertainment.
The dual-event equally aims to establish a permanent promotional hub capable of sustainably repositioning Cameroon’s East Region as a premier destination for investment, ecotourism, and regional development.
