25th SEA Games, Laos

Lao organizes cycling race from Vientiane to Luang Prabang



(KPL) The Lao National Cycling Federation cooperated with the National Tourism Administration recently to organize a cycling tournament, World Heritage City Cup, scheduled for September 2009.

Cyclists from 12 countries, Laos (host country), Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, the Philippines, Brunei, Thailand, Japan, Republic of Korea, France and Australia would be competing for the Cup.

Each country can send up to six cyclists to compete in the tournament, which will be divided into three events: a 12 km time trial in Vientiane on 23 September, a 393.6 km race from Vientiane to Luang Prabang on 24-26 September and a 50 km circuit race around Luang Prabang City on 27 September.

The long distance race will be divided into three stages: a 158.5 km trip from Vientiane to Vang Vieng district of Vientiane Province, a ride of 110.4 km from Vang Vieng to Phoukhoun district in Luang Prabang province and the final stretch of 124.7 km from Phoukhoun to Luang Prabang district.

Top Lao cyclists would be using this diversified cycling races to prepare for the coming SEAGames. They could test their cycling skills and exchange lessons with the more experienced international cyclists.

At the same time the entire race has a tourism promotion role. It would give publicity to tourism sites to potential tourists and most important of all it would promote Luang Prabang, a World Heritage City.

The press conference, held , attended by Deputy Governor of Luang Prabang, Chairman of World Heritage City Cup Organising Committee, Dr Khampheng Saysomphone and President of National Cycling Federation, Mr Vilaysouk Phimmasone, distinguished guests and members of the mass media.


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Mr. Desa Hemkasri, deputy director for the cycling association of Thailand revealed that they will send experts and volunteers from Thailand to train Lao referees and to help Laos in organizing the 25th SEA Games.

40 trainees from Laos will participate in this training from 19-23 June 2009 for the cycling and mountain bikes. The training from 22-23 June 2009 will focus on the time trial and long distance cycling, mountain bikes of Down hill and Cross country type.

Photo: Deputy Minister of Information and Culture Professor Dr Bosengkham Vongdara, who is Honorary President of the newly reformed committee of the Lao Cycling Federation ( fourth right ), takes part in the start of the public cycling race in Vientiane yesterday morning. --Photo Sangkhomsay

The Lao Cycling Federation (LCF) is hopeful of winning gold medals at the 25th SEA Games in Vientiane next year after launching a new committee on Sunday.

Vice Minister of Information and Culture and LCF Honorary President Prof. Dr Bosengkham Vongdala, LCF President Vilaysouk Phimmasone and senior ministry officials attended a ceremony to launch the federation's new committee on Sunday in Vientiane.

Dr Bosengkham and senior officials participated in a mountain bike caravan procession along Fa-ngum Road as part of the event.

Mr Vilaysouk said the federation hoped to upgrade Lao cyclists' skills with the aim of achieving success at the SEA Games.

He said the federation was planning to organise an inaugural national cycling competition, a promotional bicycle caravan and an international cycling race in the lead-up to the games.

The federation's organising committee has sent cyclists to participate in the eighth National Games to be held in Champassak province in December.

The federation will organise a road race in January to select cyclists to join the national squad.

Mr Vilaysouk said the LCF was planning to send the national team to compete in at least two international races next year.

On Sunday, the federation organised a 6km road race along Fa-ngum Road involving more than 150 cyclists from Laos and neighbouring countries.

The race was held across various categories for competitors aged eight to over 50. Winners received trophies and cash prizes from the federation.

The event was supported by the federation and Lao Star Television Channel.

By Sangkhomsay Bubphanouvong