The “Baku-Khankendi” Azerbaijan Cycling Race, a prestigious category 2.1 event of the International Cycling Union (UCI), is scheduled to commence on May 10. This high-profile competition will bring together 24 teams representing 20 countries from four different continents.
The “Baku-Khankendi” Azerbaijan Cycling Race, a prestigious category 2.1 event of the International Cycling Union (UCI), is scheduled to commence on May 10. This high-profile competition will bring together 24 teams representing 20 countries from four different continents.
During the pre-race press conference held at Sea Breeze, Sahib Alakbarov, the First Vice-President of the Azerbaijan Cycling Federation and Chairman of the Organizing Committee, emphasized that Azerbaijan has a long-standing history of successfully hosting international sporting events. He explained that following the liberation of the territories from occupation, it has been decided to broaden the scope of the race, resulting in a five-day itinerary that starts in Baku and concludes in the city of Khankendi. The race is set to traverse 21 cities and regions across the country, featuring two famous Karabakh horses named “Zafar” (Victory) and “Karabakh” as the official mascots. Alakbarov noted that the event has reached near-maximum capacity, as UCI regulations permit a limit of 25 teams. He expressed confidence that such races could be held in any region of Azerbaijan and revealed that future plans involve extending the route even further towards the Kalbajar direction.
Roland Hofer, the Technical Director of the “Baku-Khankendi” Azerbaijan Cycling Race and Honorary Secretary General of the European Cycling Union (UEC), expressed his satisfaction with being in our country once again: “I am very happy to be here, and over the course of five days, we will witness an exciting competition across terrains with diverse landscapes. Experience from previous years shows that Azerbaijan is among the world leaders in terms of organizing such races. Even Tour de France participants do not stay in hotels of this caliber. Your roads are also quite good.”
The first stage of the competition begins tomorrow at 09:25. Riders will depart from Sea Breeze and cycle through various historic and scenic landmarks of Baku. After covering a total distance of 159.3 kilometers, the opening stage will conclude with a finish line sprint in front of the Sumgayit City Executive Power building to determine the first winner of the tour.
