GILGIT: The Wapda team maintained the winning streak, clinching the third leg of the ‘Tour de Khunjerab Cycle Race 2019’ on Saturday.

The cyclists started their journey from Aliabad Hunza on Saturday morning and reached the Sost town, travelling a distance of 82 kilometres.

Cyclist Awais Khan of Wapda bagged the first position in the 3rd stage of the race, travelling the distance in one hour, 23 minutes and 23 seconds.

Shah Wali from Bikestan team stood second, covering the distance in one hour, 25 minutes and eight seconds, whereas Izzatullah from Wapda secured third spot, reaching the destination point in one hour, 25 minutes and 13 seconds.

Najeebullah from Wapda had already won the first two stages of the race.

Local people warmly welcomed the cyclists at various points on the route, with students holding Pakistani flags and pouring flowers on the racers.

GB tourism police escorted the racers.

The fourth and final round will be started from Sost on Sunday (today).

The cyclists will paddle toward Khunjerab top, the highest border between Pakistan and China situated at a height of 16,000 feet, to cover a distance of 267 kilometres in all the four stages.

The concluding ceremony of the event will be held in Hunza on Sunday.

President of Pakistan Dr Arif Alvi will be the chief guest at the concluding ceremony, where trophies and gifts will be given to winners of the cycle race.

Thirteen foreign and national teams comprising 138 cyclists are participating in the competition.

Published in Dawn, June 30th, 2019