Tour d'Azerbaidjan to host 150 cyclists in 2014
By Nigar Orujova
Twenty-five teams, 150 cyclists from 22 nations will take part in the UCI 2.1 Tour d'Azerbaidjan on May 7-11.
Each of 25 teams consists of six riders. There are sixteen continental-ranked teams among the participant teams and for the first time professional continental ranked teams.
This list involves the Azerbaijani based Synergy Baku Cycling Project, as well as four teams riding in three-week Grand Tours this year.
Head of the Organization Committee and Vice-President of the Azerbaijan Cycling Federation Sahib Alakbarov said, "We are very happy to bring together these professional continental teams in our race for the first time. This round of the race promises to be the best ever held so far with high-level international standards." he said.
Eight of these teams are MTN-Qhubeka (South Africa), Caja Rural-Seguros RGA (Spain), Neri Sottoli (formerly Yellow Fluo) (Italy), Androni Giocattoli (Italy), Drapac Professional Cycling (Australia), Team Novo Nordisk (USA), Rusvelo (Russia), and CCC Polsat-Polkowice (Poland).
Both of the Italian teams will also be sending squads to the Giro d'Italia while MTN-Qhubeka and Caja Rural-Seguros RGA will take part in this year's Vuelta a Espana.
"We are proud to feature not only some of today's top riders but also the up-and-coming young riders who will soon be amongst the world's best," Alakbarov said.
He added some of these teams are traveling to Azerbaijan directly from the Tour of Turkey. "This newly established Middle East block of racing will make it easier for the teams to attend the competition as well as to help us to show the world the cycling talents we are developing here as well as the natural beauties and facilities of our country," he said.
Organized by Azerbaijan Cycling Federation, the tour was held twice in Baku and Azerbaijani regions in May. Holding the annual cycling competition in Azerbaijan shows the rising domestic interest in this sport.
Virtual race
Moreover, Tour d'Azerbaidjan has recently presented a computer flash game inspired by a real race, which is now available at the http://tourdeazerbaidjan.com/.
Through this game, users get the great opportunity to feel like a skilful rider overcoming obstacles on the way to victory.
Virtual cycling race consists of five stages, each of which features rapid descents followed by steep climbs, with informative scenery of Baku and regions.