Meanwhile, Cuba's participation will be led by its national squad, although it will also be represented by teams from the Manuel Fajardo Superior Institute of Physical Culture and from the Technical Center in Cienfuegos.

Also competing will be teams representing the provinces of Pinar del Rio, Habana, Havana City, Matanzas, Sancti Spiritus, Ciego de Avila, Camaguey, Granma, Holguin, Santiago de Cuba and Guantanamo.

There will be some changes in the route of the tour this year. For example, the time-trial stage, which traditionally took place as the eleventh stage between Varadero and Matanzas, will on this occasion be the seventh leg of the event between Moron and Ciego de Avila.

Canadian Svein Tuff won the competition last year ahead of Cuban Pedro Pablo Perez and Venezuelan Carlos Ochoa.


(ACN)