PESHAWAR, March 23: Thomas of Germany won the Tour de Pakistan International cycle race which ended at Balahisar Fort on Wednesday.

“Tour de Pakistan is one of the toughest cycle races, and I had never thought about winning it.

However, the win gave me great pleasure”, said Thomas while talking to journalists at the Balahisar Fort.

According to the final results Thomas was timed 45 hours, 57 minutes and 6 seconds ahead of Haroon Rashid (Wapda)46 hours, 4 minutes, 13 seconds and Dir Sher Ali (Wapda) 46 hours, 4 minutes, 28 seconds.

While Imran Sharif of Sui Southern Gas finished fourth in a time of 46 hours, 7 minutes, 24 seconds with Wahid Nouroozi of Iran came fifth in 46 hours, 11 minutes and 22 seconds.

Iran claimed the first position in team event well ahead of Wapda, Sui Southern Gas, Germany, Sindh, Railway, NWFP seventh, Punjab eight, Begladesh ninth , Balochistan tenth and Afghanistan placed in that order.

Provincial Sports Minister Faisal Zaman was the chief guest and handed over $4,000 to the German. The provincial government also announced individual cash prizes including Rs.50,000 for Abdul Ahad, Rs. 30,000 Noor Mohammad and Rs. 20,000 for Naveed who finshed first, second and third during the Rawalpindi-Peshawar stage.

“This year four international teams from Germany, Bangladesh, Iran and Afghanistan participated in the event and for next year Italy, Austria, England and Australia have shown willingness to participate”, declared Khwaja Idrees secretary Pakistan Cycling Federation (PCF).