September 6, 2003	Saturday	Rajab 8, 1424

Please Visit our Sponsor (Ads open in separate window)

LAHORE, Sept 5: The NBP 11th Tour de Pakistan Cycle Race, covering a total distance of 1934 kilometres in 11 stages, will be held from Karachi to Peshawar from Oct 11 to 23.

The race was scheduled to be held in March this year but postponed due to war in Iraq.

Pakistan Cycling Federation (PCF) secretary, Idrees Haider Khawaja, told a press conference on Friday that 10 teams, of six cyclists each , would compete for a total cash prize of Rs 110,000.

Besides four provinces, defending champions Wapda, its traditional rival Army, Pakistan Ordnance Factory and Railways have confirmed their participation.

However, two more teams would be included of those affiliated units which could field an additional team of most competitive cyclists, the secretary said.

Idrees said that PCF had invited 12 foreign countries but none of them showed any interest for the race. The last date for the entries from any country was Sept 10, he said.

He said that PCF had estimated a total cost of Rs 1.8million for the championship for which the major share would be paid by National Bank.

The race would start from the mausoleum of Quaid-i-Azam at Karachi. After two rest days, one each at Rahimyar Khan and Lahore on Oct 15 and Oct 20, respectively, the race would conclude at the Bab-e-Khyber, Peshawar, he said.

The winning team will get Rs 50,000 and the runners-up Rs 25,000. The third team will get a purse of Rs 15,000 while the fourth team Rs 10,000. The cash prizes of Rs 5,000 would also be given to the fifth and sixth position holders.

The federation minister Chaudhary Naurez Shakoor Khan and Khawaja Idrees have been appointed as chairman and secretary organising committee, respectively. Yasin has been named as chief coordinator.

Racing schedule:

Oct 11: From Karachi to Hyderabad (205 kilometres).

Oct 12: Hyderabad to Moro (178 km).

Oct 13: Moro to Sukker (177 km).

Oct 14:Sukker to Rahimyar Khan (180km).

Oct 15: Rest Day at Rahimyar Khan.

Oct 16: Rahimyar Khan to Bahawalpur (210km).

Oct 17: bahawalpur to Multan (110km).

Oct 18: Multan to Sahiwal (188km).

Oct 19: Sahiwal to Lahore (200km).

Oct 20: Rest Day at Lahore.

Oct 21: Lahore to Gujrat (130 km).

Oct 22: Gujrat to Rawalpindi (180km).

Oct 23: Rawalpind to Peshawar (176km).