Route and awards for int'l cycling tour in Azerbaijan announced
By Nigar Orujova
An international cycling tour that will bring together 25 teams from 40 countries takes place in Azerbaijan on May 1-5.
The "Tour of Azerbaijan 2013", which is dedicated to the 90th anniversary of the national leader Heydar Aliyev, has been presented in Baku.
According to Sahib Alekperov, Vice President of the Azerbaijan Cycling Federation and the chairman of the organizing committee, the race is an event within the International Cycling Union (UCI) Europe Tour, which will start in Baku, pass seven regions of the country and end in the capital city.
Speaking about the competition, Alekperov noted that it is a U23 category tour (for athletes under 23 years old), organized by the Azerbaijan Cycling Federation with support of the Youth and Sport Ministry, the National Olympic Committee and the UCI.
Alekperov also highlighted achievements of the newly created first national cycling team "Synergy Baku Cycling Project" and work on the reconstruction and improvement of the cycling track.
The opening of the cycling tour and presentation of teams will be held on April 30, he said.
Albrecht Roeder, a member of the organizing committee, the developer of the tour's route and well-known organizer of cycling events, including the Road Racing World Championship under the UCI auspices, held in Stuttgart in 2007, informed the participants of the preparations, as well as the route of the race.
The first stage of the tour will start on May 1 in Baku near the Heydar Aliyev Center. Having passed 11 laps of 157 kilometers through the avenue, the participants will finish near the Center's building, Roeder said.
The next day, on May 2, starting from the brand new cycle park on the Caspian Sea shore, the peloton will move towards the Great Caucasus ridge and, covering 183 kilometers, will finish near Ismayilli city.
On May 3, the cyclists will head for Sheki city from Gabala, passing the Oguz region, and back to Gabala, thus covering 165 kilometers.
On May 4, the race will start at Gabala, whence the peloton will move towards Shamakhi city and after covering 116 kilometers will finish near the Pirguli Observatory, 1,450 meters above sea.
The final, 146 kilometer long stage, will pass through the central avenues and streets of Baku, and after making 12 laps will finish in front of the Government House.
The cycling tournament will have an increased total prize fund of 69,000 euros, Roeder said.
According to him, teams from Luxembourg, Belgium and the Netherlands are considered the favorites of the race.
The winner will be granted 6,000 euros, and the ones to be distinguished in the sprint and mount competitions will also be awarded money prizes, Roeder added.
Sahib Alekperov also told journalists on Friday that a part of the cycling park which is under construction in Baku will be opened in mid-April.
Some 20,000 trees have already been planted in the cycling park, and it is also planned to create leasure facilities in the future, he said.
Cycling sport infrastructure is not on the high level yet, as there is a lack of cycling tracks in the city. A special appeal has been addressed to relevant entities in this regard. Moreover, the cycling track which is now under construction is planned to be opened this summer, Alekperov stressed.
The first professional cycling competition took place in Azerbaijan in May 2012 with the participation of 17 teams from 15 countries.