Cyclists compete during the Tour de Korea last year. (Tour de Korea)
The country’s biggest road cycling race kicks off on Sunday in Incheon for an eight-day run across the country.
Tour de Korea, the country’s annual cycling competition, has successfully grown into a premier race in Asia. This year, marking its sixth anniversary, the race has attracted more than 130 professional riders in 22 teams from across the world, along with some 200 amateur riders, according to the organizer.
The participants will ride more than 1,800 kilometers during the eight-day event, covering 10 cities including Buyeo in South Chungcheong Province, Yeosu in South Jeolla Province and Gumi in North Gyeongsang Province, before ending the race in Hanam in Gyeonggi Province on April 29.
A total of 300 million won ($263,000) will be awarded at the 2012 Tour de Korea, the organizer said.
In the individual competition, defending champion Choi Ki-ho of Hong Kong is looking to defend his title here, but the 2010 champion Mike Friedman of the United States and the 2011 points jersey winner Paul Odlin of New Zealand are also looking for the title.
In the team event, the 2011 team champion Team Type 1 is hoping to defend its title. But China’s Champion System and Russia’s Rusvelo are expected to pose strong challenges.
By Oh Kyu-wook (596story@heraldm.com)
koreaherald@heraldcorp.com
