The 24th Vuelta Independencia Nacional, the cycling event recognized worldwide as one of the most important in the Caribbean, takes off tomorrow from the Plaza de la Bandera in Santo Domingo. Cyclists from the United States, Puerto Rico, Guadaloupe and Venezuela will cover the 1,286-meter grand tour of the Dominican Republic, over 11 days. The stages are:
February 19: Santo Domingo-La Romana
February 20: San Pedro-Santo Domingo
February 21: Santo Domingo-Barahona
February 21: Barahona-San Cristobal
February 22: Santo Domingo-Bonao
February 23: Bonao ? La Vega ? San Francisco de Macoris
February 24: Moca-Puerto Plata-Mao
February 25: Mao-Piedra Gorda-Santiago-San Francisco-Jarabacoa
February 26: La Vega-Santo Domingo
February 27: Santo Domingo