Balochistan’s Abdul Razaq win Tour de Khunjerab Road Cycle Race

A total of 72 cyclists participated in the race including cyclists from Afghanistan, Switzerland (Mr. Martin), Pakistan origin Australian Ismail where Balochistan secured first position as a team, followed by, Wapda, Army, SSGC and Afghanistan. 

Balochistan’s superlative cyclist Abdul Razaq clinched the Serena International Tour de Khunrab Road Cycle Race after coming from behind crossing a high altitude of 15500 feet in 8 hours 55 minute and 31seconds. He had the honor of winning the 66km first stage of the three stages Tour de Khunjrab from Gilgit to Rakaposhi View Point within 2 hours, six minutes and 25sec and got fourth position in the second stage of 110km from Rakaposhi (Nagar) to Sost by maintaining his lead of just 4 minutes from the fellow cyclists. He recorded his clock time at the end of the two stages as 5.37.01sec, taking a four minute lead from Hanzala 5.41.50 and Najeeb Ullah 5.51.04.

Abdul Razaq got second position in the third stage of 84km from Sost to Khunjrab Pass but he maintained his lead till the finish and was declared as overall winner.He was closely followed by another promising Hanzala, who got second position in the first stage with his clock time 2.11.01sec, followed by second position in the second and third stage with his time 3.30.16sec and 3.18.30sec by making an aggregated total of clocking time 8.59. 62sec. The total length of the race was 258km.

Najeeb Ullah of Pakistan Wapda got third position with his clock time 8 hours, 60minute and 67sec. Najeeb, got third position in the first stage with his clock time 2.11.01sec, followed by third position in the second stage with 3.30.16sec and 3.18.30sec.

In the last stage of 84kg from Sost to Khunjrab Pass, bordering on Pakistan-China border and on a high elevation of 5000m, Najeeb Ullah claimed the first position with his clock time 3.18.30sec, followed by Abdul Raqaz 3.18.51sec, Hanzala, a young rider, also from Balochsitan, who was also declared as the best young rider of the Tour de Khunjrab, clocked 3.19.45sec by taking third position, Azzat Ullah of Wapda clocked 3.21.49sec and took fourth position, Habib Ullah of Sui Southern Gas got fifth position with his clock time 3.22.06 and Abdullah, the winner of the second stage from Pakistan Army, got third position

Deputy Commissioner Sost Captain (Retd) Syed Ali Asghar along Secretary Pakistan Cycling Federation Syed Azhar Ali Shah formally opened the third stage and graced the ceremony as chief guest while Secretary Sports and Tourism Waqar Ali Khan, Chief Commissioner Muhammad Usman Khan received the cyclists at the Khunjrab Pass.