Asia's 2nd largest cycling event to start on Aug 29
New Delhi | Wednesday, Jul 28 2010 IST
 

With the participation of 120 cyclists from 16 countries, Asia's second largest cycling event - Gitanjali Tour De Delhi Cyclothon 2010, carrying a prize money of 25,000 euros- would kick off here on August 29.

The event, a International Cycling Union (UCI)- approved international race featuring the world's best cyclists will be a run-up to the Commonwealth Games this October and follow the same route earmarked for all cycling races for the multi-sport extravaganza.

Apart from the international teams - including Germany, Holland, Belgium, Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan, Iran, Hong Kong, Tabriz Petrochemical team, Karu cycling team among others - for the 100-km elite race which carries a prize money of 15 lakhs, top Indian cyclists from 22 states would vie for the 5 lakhs prize money-65 km event.

''There would another event for mass participation,'' informed Cycling Federation of India (CFI) President Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa last evening.

He also said, ''The event will offer the national cyclists a good practice ahead of the Commonweath Games as it would follow the same route.'' The event, the biggest cycling event in India under the aegis of UCI, CFI and association with FICCI and CWG, would start from Vijay Chowk going through Deen Dayal Upadhayay Marg before winding up from where it started and will have nine stages of 13.7km each.

The best riders from the national teams will qualify to be trained to participate with international riders.

Further speaking on the occasion, Dhindsa said, ''The event falls under the 1.2 category of the Asia Tour of the international circuit. After the success of Tour De Mumbai, we are delighted to conduct an international racing event in the national capital which will flag off for the Delhi Games. CFI is all set to promote cycling as a serious sport in India.'' He also asserted that the CFI was mulling over the idea of starting stage races in India.

Vijay Kumar Malhotra, president of Archery Association of India, said that like archery, cycling was nothing more than just a sport but things have changed currently as more sponsors and players are coming forward and taking interest in the sport.

''The sport needs serious attention in the country otherwise it would be difficult to find world beaters.'' The Gitanjali Tour de Delhi - Cyclothon 2010 also brings the motto of ''Burn Fat, Not Fuel'', thus bringing together the causes of economic-friendly lifestyle options and effort to eradicate the epidemic of herat disease in India.

-- (UNI) -- 28SPD18.xml

 

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