Azerbaijan, Baku, May 1 / Trend /
The TOUR D`AZERBAIDJAN international cycling race dedicated to national leader Heydar Aliyev's 90th anniversary started in Baku on Wednesday. The race began from the area around the Heydar Aliyev Centre in Baku.
Cyclists from 24 teams will pass through 11 laps on the route of Heydar Aliyev Centre - Koroglu Metro Station - Heydar Aliyev Centre. The total route length is 157 km.
The race, dedicated to national leader Heydar Aliyev's 90th anniversary, will pass through the territories of Baku city and the Absheron, Gobustan, Shamakhi, Ismayilli, Gabala, Oguz and Sheki regions of Azerbaijan in five phases.
The Tour d'Azerbaïdjan is a 2.2 event on the UCI Europe Tour.
On May the second starting from the brand new cycle park on Shikov beach the peloton will move on the route Baku-Absheron-Gobustan-Shamakhi-Ismayilli. Cyclists passing 183 km will finish in Ismayilli.
The third phase will take place on May 3 on the Gabala-Oguz-Sheki-Oguz-Gabala (165 km) route. The fourth phase will continue on May 4 through the Gabala-Shamakhi course. Cyclists, passing 116 kilometres, will finish in front of the training centre building of the Taxes Ministry of Azerbaijan, near the observatory in Pirgulu, located at an altitude of about 1450 metres above sea level.
The final phase of the race with length of 144 km will start on May 5 in Azadlig Square, Baku, and will pass the central streets and avenues of Baku and ending after 12 laps.
The international cycling race is widely covered on TV channels Eurosport, Eurosport-2 and others. To this end, employees of about 40 television channels have been sent to Azerbaijan on this cover the event.
