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| March 18, 2007 | Sunday | Safar 28, 1428 |
New Zealand’s Read wins final stage to emerge overall leader: 13th Tour-de-Pakistan
PESHAWAR, March 17: New Zealand’s prolific cyclist Robin Read, who started his arduous Tour-de-Pakistan campaign with a terrific win in the 1st stage from Karachi to Hyderabad on March 4th, wrapped up the 158-km final stage from Rawalpindi to Peshawar in a sensational finish, clocking exactly four hours and one minute.
Read was followed by first stage runner-up Justin Kerr who fell just eight seconds short of Read to secure the second place in the final stage as well as in the individual standings. Rankings aside, Read was clearly 13th Tour-de-Pakistan’s most remarkable cyclist who rode like a man possessed in all the eleven stages.
Read, not one to easily show his emotions, was nevertheless pleased with his outstanding performance. “I ran in every stage for a win yet I also ensured that I don’t overstress myself for fear of draining out. I always wanted to end my campaign here with a win and I am happy I am the eventual winner,’ said the diminutive Read after the culmination of the final stage.
Mohammad Asif of Railways who displayed flashes of brilliance in most of the stages finished third, just four seconds behind Kerr. Sudeera Nilanga, easily Sri Lanka’s best rider of the two-week event finished fourth. Hassan Mukarram of Afghanistan ended up fifth while Canadian Larry Zimich Wayne, one of the favourites to finish at top three had to be contented with the sixth position.
The surprise appearance in top six was of Afghanistan’s Hassan Mukarram who was hardly prolific during the entire two-week race yet saved his best for the last.
The overall team standings were dominated by Pakistan’s departmental and provincial teams. WAPDA secured the first position, cumulatively clocking 137 hours, 41 minutes and 13 seconds, followed by Pakistan Army which clocked 137 hours, 59 minutes and nine seconds with SSGC securing third spot overall, clocking 138 hours, 59 minutes and seven seconds.
The individual standings were categorized into two – international and national cyclists. While Robin Read and Justin Kerr ensured Kiwi domination at the top two, Matthew Usborne was third owing to a couple of win in the previous stages. Sri Lanka’s Sudeera Nilanga, an Asian Games veteran was fourth followed by Canadian Larry Zimich Wayne at fifth. Another Sri Lankan, Suwaris Premachandra capped off the international standings securing sixth position.
Munawar Baseer, Senior Vice President Pakistan Cycling Federation and Managing Director SSGC was the chief guest at the prize distribution ceremony that followed the race. Idrees Haider Khawaja, Secretary, Pakistan Cycling Federation and Syed Aqil Shah, President, Sarhad Olympics Association were also present on the occasion.
The chief guest presented Robin Read with a winners’ cheque of $3000 and a glittering Admiral Hasan Hafeez Ahmed Memorial Trophy while the runner-up Justin Kerr received a purse of $2000 and a runners-up trophy. Canadian Matthew Usborne, who stood third in the foreign team standings was awarded $1500. In the overall local riders’ standings Mohammad Asif of Pakistan Railway who clinched the first position bagged Rs200,000 while the runner-up Ghulam Abbas received a cheque of Rs150,000. —Agencies
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