DAKAR, Sept. 7 (Xinhua) -- Tour of Senegal cycling race was kicked off Thursday with the preliminary round moved to the region of Thies, 70km of Dakar.

The 102 runners, divided in 17 teams, will cover 1,177 km in 9 stages, with a strong European presence being the highlight of the event.

Five French teams (Saint Chely, Vs Quimper, Rfi Team, C.C Balou,Morbihan), one Dutch (Altipower), one Belgian (West-Vlaanderen), one Portuguese (Dulce Tewtil) and the Polish national team are Europe's flag bearers in the contest.

Competing against them for Africa are Cameroon, Burkina Faso, Morocco, Gabon, Senegal (two teams) as well as Egypt and Libya, two newcomers in the Tour.

Classified in the Africa Tour category by the International Cyclist Union (UCI), which means amongst the best African Tours, the Tour of Senegal must meet the challenge of a successful organisation.

The Tour will end on Sept. 17 as the riders finish at the Dakar-based Leopold Sedar Senghor stadium. Enditem