PESHAWAR: The longest cycling race in Asia “ the Tour de Pakistan Cycling” will commence from March 8, 2011 and will culminate this time at a hilly summer resort Abbottabad.This was stated by President of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Cycling Association Syed Azhar Ali Shah in an honor reception organized for those who participated in the smooth conduct of Abbottabad-Nathia Gali Cycle Race concluded recently.Chief Manager State Bank of Pakistan Syeda Asma Aziz was chief guest on this occasion. Azhar Ali Shah stated that preparations in this connection are underway for the smooth conduct of 1620 kilometers race in which cyclists from countries comprising Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Iran, South Africa,Doha, Dubai, Saudi Arabia and host Pakistan vie for the top honor.It is modeled after “the Tour de France” as the race used to be is 22 stages long and 2200 kilometers in length, but in 2007 it was reduced to 1648 kilometers and 11 stages.He said that Pakistan Cycling Federation (PCF) wanted to promote road cycle racing, as most of it’s focus had been on track cycling. Thus the formation of the Tour de Pakistan, based on the Tour de France, it would give the opportunity to test Pakistani cyclists.
The grueling event became one of the longest and toughest in Asia which has seen international teams compete alongside Pakistani teams. The current prize money is $10,000 which is shared out between the top six.The 15th Tour de Pakistan started on March 1, 2010 participated by cyclists from different parts of Pakistan and Afghanistan. Zahid Gulfam of Wapda won the race by covering distance of 1,655 km in 46 hours 13 minutes and 9 seconds and received US$ 2,500. Nisar Ahmed got second position and got US$ 1,500 while third position holder Hashmatullah of Afghanistan received US$ 1,000.Fourth to sixth finishers received US$ 750 each. Haroon Rashid Pakistan Wapda won it in 2001, followed by Zahid Gulfam Pakistan Wapda in 2003, Thomas Lodburaey of Germany won it 2005, Robin Reid of New Zealand in 2007, Naimat Ali of Pakistan SSCG in 2008 and Zahid Gulfam of Pakistan Wapda in 2010 got honor.Earlier, Syeda Asma Aziz distributed shields and certificates among the officials of Abbottabad-Nathia Gali besides shield were also distributed among the newly elected office-bearers of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Sports Writers Association and Photo Journalists Forum.
The Cycle race in stages:
March 8: Karachi to Hyderabad 150km
March 9: Hyderabad to Moro 163km
March 10: Moro to Sukkur 150km
March 11: Sukkur-Rahim Yar Khan 178km
March 12: Rest Day at Rahim Yar Khan
March 13: Rahim Yar Khan-Bahawalpur 200km
March 14: Bahawalpur to Multan 90km
March 15: Multan to Sahiwal 154km
March 16: Sahiwal-Lahore 160km
March 17: Rest Day at Lahore
March 18: Lahore to Gujrat 115km
March 19: Gujrat to Rawalpindi 150km
March 20: Rawalpindi to Abbottabad 110km
