LAHORE, Oct 20: Pakistan Cycling Federation (PCF) will dole out Rs 1m in cash prizes for next year’s Tour-de-Pakistan cycle race.

“We want to encourage participants of this premier contest to generate greater interest and make the event more competitive and have decided to increase cash prizes to Rs 1 million for 2004 race”, said Idris Haider Khawaja, secretary PCF, at a dinner reception held in honour of the Tour-de-Pakistan race cyclists race who arrived on Sunday.

PCF official said it was encouraging to see that the number of participants in the race were increasing each year which proves that cycling as a sport was gaining popularity.

“It is our dream to offer cash prizes amounting to US$100,000 to the winners and are making efforts in this direction, but for the next race, we will be able to offer Rs 1m”, he said.

Idris disclosed that plans were also underway to hold the event on the pattern of the famous Tour-de-France.

After a day’s rest on Monday the cyclists will resume pedal their way to Gujrat the next leg of the competition.—APP

Our Sports Correspondent adds: Chaudhary Naurez Shakoor Khan and Khawaja Idrees Haider have been elected as president and secretary of the Pakistan Cycling Federation (PCF) on Monday.