March 10, 2007	Saturday	Safar 20, 1428

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BAHAWALPUR, March 9: After coming close to winning the last three stages, Canadian Larry Zimich Wayne gave his all to emerge victorious in the 176-km fifth stage of the 13th Tour de Pakistan International Cycle Race from Rahim Yar Khan to Bahawalpur held under unfavorable weather and road conditions.

After Thursday’s rest, Wayne started afresh on windy morning to steadily emerge from the pack to win the fifth stage in 5 hours, 36 minutes and 26 seconds.

One of WAPDA’s best cyclists, former national champion Dil Sher Ali, was sublime on wheels and was placed second as he reached the finishing line in 5 hours, 36 minutes and 34 seconds.

Mohammad Asif of Pakistan Railways who had put up strong performances in the earlier stages was third overall, a mere 8 seconds behind Dil Sher.

The fact that it was a close race was evident from the fact that Ghulam Abbas of Pakistan Army, Robin Read of New Zealand and Matthew Usborne of Canada finished off the job securing fourth, fifth and sixth positions, all three of them clocking 5 hours, 36 minutes and 46 seconds.

Strong winds were not the only factor that restricted the riders’ movement. The 176-km ride today was the hardest primarily due to undulated and uneven roads enroute to Rahim Yar Khan. At one uneven slope, Sri Lankan rider Wasathe Harish Chandra fell and suffered an elbow fracture though he has recovered well in time for subsequent stages

This morning the cyclists leave Bahawalpur on the sixth stage to cover a relatively shorter distance of 88 km in enroute to Multan. —Agencies