Azerbaijan, Baku, May 7 /Trend /
Time is running out before the start of the first international tournament in professional cycling in Azerbaijan, the Cycling Federation of Azerbaijan said on Monday.
Heydar Aliyev Anniversary Tour will be held on May 9-13, 2012. The competition is of great importance for the revival of cycling in Azerbaijan, which is the main purpose of the National Cycling Federation.
Cycling Federation, created in Soviet times, virtually inactive for the past 20 years. As a result, Azerbaijan has virtually no appropriate conditions for the training of young cyclists.
"At present, there are very few bicycle clubs and sections. We are trying to improve conditions in order to revive interest in cycling, looking for talented young people. If we can properly orient the young Azerbaijani athletes, I'm sure they will achieve good results in the future" athletic director of the Cycling Federation of Azerbaijan Theo Mauher said.
Heydar Aliyev Anniversary Tour is very important for the further development of cycling in Azerbaijan. The roads are in good condition and the infrastructure is well developed.
"This tour and the further development of cycling in the country will also contribute to efforts to protect the environment and human health. A larger number of such events in Azerbaijan can be expected after that cycling. They are necessary, including raising the level of Azerbaijani sportsmen," Mauher said.
Long-term systematic training of professional cyclists is carried out in foreign countries, while Azerbaijani athletes have been preparing for a few months for the upcoming competition. Thus we shouldn't wait any serious results from them, Mauher said.
"We must invest in training of young cyclists with potential. Tour will help us in promoting cycling in Azerbaijan," Mauher concluded.
Heydar Aliyev Anniversary Tour is the competition of 2.2 U23 (for athletes under 23 years) category, which is included in the calendar of Continental Tour UCI (World Cycling Union). The organizers of the Tour are Cycling Federation of Azerbaijan, National Olympic Committee, the Ministry of Youth and Sports. A German company FREUNDE Eventlogistik carries out the organization of technical issues.