Foreign cyclists have strongly reacted on the unpaved and unserviceable roads in Pakistan and said "we have erred to join the Tour de Pakistan cycle race, however we would not repeat this mistake in future." Talking to newsmen here on Friday Jawad Mousvi (Iranian national) said that hot season, dusty and unpaved roads and mismanagement were main hurdles in maintaining my success and next time no Iranian player would like to come to Pakistan.
Three cyclists each from Afghanistan and Germany, five from Iran and four from Bangladesh took part in the cycle race and another 36 belonged to Pakistan.
On Friday, at least 51 participants of Tour de Pakistan cycle race left for seventh leg for Sahiwal. In sixth leg between Bahawalpur and Multan, Hesco's Naveed Ahmed annexed the top position, second & third position was taken by Noor Muhammad and Nazir Bhatti, respectively.
The 8th round from Sahiwal to Lahore [165-kilometers] would start on March 20 and later 9th round from Lahore-Gujrat [112-kilometers] on March 21. The bicycle race would start 10th round from Gujrat-Rawalpindi [157-kilometers] on March 22 and the last round on March 23 from Rawalpindi-Peshawar [155-kilometers]. Pakistan bicycling federation office bearers said that 10,000 dollars would be given to overall first position holder, 5,000 dollars for runner up and 3,000 dollars for 3rd position holder. Besides that Rs 15,000 would be awarded to each round first position holder, Rs 10,000 for 2nd and Rs 7,000 for 3rd position holder. Position holders from 4th to 10th positions would be awarded Rs 5,000 cash prize.