KARACHI, March 11: Iranian rider Sayed Javed Moosavi grabbed the leaders’ yellow jersey after he won the 205km Karachi to Hyderabad first stage of Tour de Pakistanl cycle race on Friday.

He covered the distance in three hours, 42 minutes two seconds to lead the pack of 72-cyclists featuring in this 12-day race.

Muhammad Asif of Pakistan Railways finished second while German Thomas Lauterbach finished third and another Iranian rider Maysem Keyani was fourth.

Haroon Rasheed (Wapda), Naeem Baloch (SSGC) and former Tour de Pakistan champion Dil Sher Ali (Wapda) secured the other three positions.

Defending champion Zahid Gulfam of SSGC could not finish among the top seven.

The 1709km race will terminate at Qila Bala Hisar on Pakistan Day on March 23.

The winner of race, which is test of stamina and endurance will get a lucrative purse of US$ 10,000 (around 600,000) 178km Hyderabad to Moro second stage will start on Saturday.

A total of 70 cyclists from Pakistan, Iran, Germany, Afghanistan and Bangladesh started 1934 kilometers long contest from the mausoleum of Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah and finished 153km long first leg at Hyderabad bypass.

Javed was the first cyclist, who reached the finishing point at the time of 3-42-02, while Muhammad Asif from Pakistan Railways and Thomas Lodburaey from Germany covered the distance in 3-42-12 and 3-42-22 and were declared second and third respectively.

According to results, Masum Kiani from Iran, Haroon from Wapda, Naim Baloch from SSGL and defending champion Dilsher from Wapda have been placed at fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh in the first leg.

On behalf of Pakistan Cycling Federation (PCF), medal and cash award of Rs15,000 was given to Javed, the winner of the first leg while Muhammad Asif and Lodburaey received medals and cash awards of Rs10,000 and Rs7,500. Maysem Keyani, Haroon, Naim Baloch and Dil Sher also received cash reward of Rs5,000 each.

GOVERNOR INAUGURATES

Earlier Sindh Governor, Dr Ishratul Ibad Khan has said that presence of international cyclists and their participation in the race was not only an honour for Sindh but it would also project a positive image of Pakistan that it was a safe country and a sporting nation besides being hospitable.

He was speaking as chief guest at the start of Karachi-Peshawar 1704km race.

The Governor said that our national team which comprises cyclists from Wapda, Army, Railway and SSGC will not only learn race techniques but also gain better experience whereafter they would be able to particpate in international cycling races outside Pakistan.

He said it was a delightful occasion for him to inaugurate the 12th Tour de Pakistan cycle race from the Quaid’s Mausoleum and in which cyclists from Germany, Iran, Afghanistan and Bangladesh are also taking part.

On the occasion, the Governor announced an award money of Rs0.5million for cyclists on behalf of Sindh Government.

Earlier, the provincial minister for sports, Qamar Mansoor said that present government was working for the promotion of cycling.

He recalled that a cycle race was organised from Karachi to Hyderabad six months back. At that time SSGC had demanded of Sindh government the construction of velodrome and the same had been fulfilled within six months and included in the schemes for Sindh.—Agencies