26 Established 1961 Sports Monday, July 8, 2019 Tour de Impossible? Pakistan hosts ‘toughest cycle race’

Climbing towards the ‘Roof of the World’

KHUNJERAB: Finishing nearly 5,000 metres above sea an extraordinary landscape. Soaring, jagged peaks con- level after hundreds of kilometres winding past black- trast with vertiginous ravines, glaciers driving a chill wind, ened glaciers and snow-capped peaks: a new Pakistani and tumbling aquamarine rivers. Landslides are common. race presents a world-class challenge for cyclists-climb- Guardrails are a flimsy suggestion of protection from ing towards the “Roof of the World”. The Tour de steep falls of hundreds of feet. “There is no place in the Khunjerab-its name a homage to its more famous French world that offers all these things,” said Ahmed. counterpart, which began on Saturday-is still many years “No doubt it is the toughest cycle race in the world. away from being another Big Loop, but with a solid We are aiming to make it our trademark,” said Haroon claim to being the highest cycling race in the world, it General, president of the Pakistan Cycling Federation. has a lot to offer a certain type of athlete. “The most difficult part of the race is the final stage In the last week of June, some 88 cyclists, including where cyclists face shortage of oxygen and there is risk two teams from Afghanistan and Sri Lanka as well as solo of heart issues... At such an altitude a person falls down participants from Spain and Switzerland, took part in its (faints) after running for 200 metres, but our cyclists second edition. Less than half completed it within the travelled for almost 59 kilometres,” he said. Five ambu- allotted time. The four stages-three ranging from 68 to 94 lances were on standby in case of emergencies in the kilometres (42 to 58 miles) plus a shorter time trial-are final stage, he said, adding: “A majority of the cyclists much shorter than many other cycling events. But there is made it but the support staff needed ambulances.” one fundamental difference: the Pakistani Tour starts at 1,500 metres above sea level, and never stops climbing. ‘Breathless’ The final day of this year’s event sums up the chal- The winner of the event, Najeeb Ullah-a Pakistani lenge. Starting at 2,800 metres-higher than the Iseran from a hilltop village in the southwestern province of Pass, the summit of the Tour de France-it ends at 4,700 Balochistan who won three of the four stages-told AFP HUNZA: Pakistani and international cyclists take part in the Tour de Khunjerab, one of the world’s highest alti- metres, just over 100 metres short of Mont Blanc, that breathing was a “problem” for him in the final climb. tude cycling competitions, near the Pakistan-China Khunjerab border. — AFP Europe’s highest mountain. The Khunjerab Tour must “I had to face a lot of difficulties while reaching the fin- become “an attraction... for the most daring and adven- ishing line,” located at the Khunjerab Pass, the border turous cyclists in the world”, said Usman Ahmed, the top between Pakistan and China, he said. race. “I could barely pedal and was feeling breathless,” said in some sections the competitors faced a gradient of official for the northern Gilgit region, home to some of the Especially since altitude was not the only obstacle: On he admitted. Aslam, a runner from Islamabad, had 20 percent, an angle rarely seen in such competitions in planet’s tallest peaks and where the race was held. the final day, fierce winds drove snowflakes into the already had to dismount and walk to the finish on the around the world. At each stage organisers wearing con- The cyclists’ tyres swallow up the asphalt of the cyclists’ faces, forcing some already struggling to catch second day. struction helmets scrutinised the surrounding mountains, Karakoram Highway, one of the highest paved roads in their breath to dismount. “Our entire training is reduced “The road was so steep that a majority of the cyclists peering closely for any sign of the rockfalls that periodi- the world. Named after the Karakoram mountain range- to nothing when we reach the final stage,” lamented had to get off their cycles because even a normal vehicle cally smash on to the road-a potential peril to the just one of the ranges in Gilgit-the road passes through Abdullah Aslam, a participant who could not finish the (two-wheel drive) faces issues,” he recalled. Organisers cyclists below. — AFP 5 World Five Cricket 44 matches, still has a long way to go. Mashrafe Mortaza (Bangladesh) Mashrafe Mortaza started the tour- Cup stars for WCup flops nament by leading Bangladesh to a shock victory over South Africa as he MANCHESTER: Six of the World became the country’s most successful the future Cup’s 10 teams are heading back home ODI with four World Cup wins. LONDON: With the after missing out on the semi-finals fol- But the 35-year-old struggled with his heading into the semi-finals, the tournament lowing the conclusion of the group own form as the seamer claimed just is set for a dramatic conclusion featuring stage on Saturday. England, Australia, one from eight matches. The some of the game’s finest talents. But the and New Zealand still have their sting was missing from Mashrafe’s group stage also introduced the world to eyes on the prize, but here AFP Sport as he seldom completed his several vibrant young talents set to dominate takes a look at five players who failed quota of 10 overs, relying on the team’s cricket for years to come. Here, AFP Sport to live up to expectations: other quicks to do the job. The end looks at five players who have announced came with his team’s disappointing loss their arrival as potential stars: (West Indies) to Pakistan and Mashrafe signed off by Chris Gayle seldom fired for the saying: “We are extremely sorry that Nicolas Pooran (West Indies) West Indies in his eight innings as his we couldn’t lend a helping hand to Nicolas Pooran finally showcased the tal- side failed to make the last four. Gayle, Shakib (Al Hasan) who batted, bowled ent he has promised to unleash for so long as 39, managed 242 runs including two and fielded very well in every match in the batsman finished as the West Indies’ lead- fifties to end his World Cup career-he this tournament.” ing run scorer. The 23-year-old made a played in five editions of the 50-over on his ODI debut before the World Cup but West Indies’ tournament-on a disappointing note. Hashim Amla (South Africa) went on to play each of the team’s nine group The self-styled “universe boss” started One of South Africa’s most depend- games, scoring 367 runs at an average of with a 50 in his team’s opening win able players in the last five years, Amla 52.42. West Indies assistant coach Roddy tournament, including 104 against the West over Pakistan, but struggled to convert scored just 203 runs in his seven World Estwick had seen Pooran’s potential five (Afghanistan) Indies and 49 in Sri Lanka’s shock win over starts into big scores for most of the Cup outings. The opener did hit two years ago when he scored 143 in an Under-19 Afghanistan may have left the World Cup England. “We’ve had a few positives out of tournament. The one-time six-hitting half-centuries but one came in a losing World Cup match against Australia. “I’ve winless after losing all nine matches, but the this World Cup,” Karunaratne said. “Avishka machine faltered against pace and spin, cause and the other was delivered in a always believed in Nicholas. I’m not surprised minnows could take heart from the rise of Fernando is playing really well. “He showed but got a rousing send-off in his last consolation win after the Proteas had by his talent. What’s surprised me is it’s taken teenage off-spinner Mujeeb Ur Rahman. what he can do, he can produce runs for Sri game against Afghanistan, even making fallen out of the semi-finals race. Amla’s as long as this for him to come through,” Mujeeb took just seven in the tourna- Lanka. He’s one of the future stars.” waves on with an ‘End of an era’ woes often put Faf du Plessis’ side in Estwick said. ment, but the 18-year-old tormented batsmen hashtag to mark his World Cup trouble in the first 10 overs and the rest (England) with his crafty use of flight and variation, farewell. Gayle finished with 1,186 runs of the did little to make up for it. Shaheen Shah Afridi (Pakistan) marking him out as one to watch. Rashid Barbados-born Jofra Archer has repaid from 35 World Cup matches. He remains a cherished figure in South Pakistan paceman Shaheen Shah Afridi Khan, his senior by two years, remains England’s faith with a dazzling breakthrough Africa though and when he scored an enjoyed a breakthrough World Cup cam- Afghanistan’s number one spinner, but in his first major tournament. Archer only (Afghanistan) unbeaten 80 against Sri Lanka, veteran paign, prompting Wasim Akram to hail the Mujeeb is coming up fast, as he proved with a became eligible to play for England earlier Rashid Khan came into the World commentator Harsha Bhogle wrote on teenager as a future star. The teenager superb spell of 3-39 against Bangladesh in this year and was fast-tracked into the team Cup as cricket’s hottest property after Twitter: “So happy to see Hashim Amla recorded Pakistan’s best-ever World Cup Southampton. just before the World Cup in a bid to make catching the eye with his leg spinners get runs. One of the greats of our era.” bowling figures with a scintillating spell of 6- the most of the paceman’s natural gifts. The for minnows Afghanistan. But the (Sri Lanka) 35 in Friday’s win over Bangladesh at Lord’s. 24-year-old’s combination of speed and sensation, who played a (Pakistan) When Sri Lanka captain Dimuth accuracy made him unplayable at times. He He became the youngest player to take a leading role for many sides in franchise A lot was expected of the right-arm Karunaratne reflected on a frustrating cam- taken 17 wickets in England’s run to the semi- five-wicket haul at the World Cup at 19 years cricket across the globe, claimed only quick who had starred for Pakistan in his paign for the 1996 champions, the promising finals, including a run of four successive and 90 days, finishing the tournament with 16 six wickets in nine games as the team’s 2017 Champions Trophy triumph form of fearless batsman Avishka Fernando three-wicket hauls, leading many to mark him wickets in five games. “Definitely, Shaheen is Afghans returned winless. in England. But the speedster disap- put a smile back on his face. The 21-year-old down as the spearhead of his country’s attack one for the future, a beacon of light for the Skipper defended pointed after claiming just two wickets in scored 203 runs in only four matches in the for years to come. — AFP next generation of fast bowlers,” Wasim said. his premier spinner, who is number one four games and failing to check the flow in the T20 rankings, after their final loss of runs. He was dropped after returning to West Indies, saying “he gives 100 figures of 1-84 in his nine overs in the Double triumph for percent but it’s bad luck”. But the 20- team’s thrashing against arch rivals India. year-old Rashid, who made the world And the fastest bowler to take 50 wick- take notice of his art when he became ets for Pakistan remained benched for dominant Marquez the fastest to take 100 ODI wickets, in the rest of the tournament. — AFP brothers in Germany SACHSENRING: Honda rider Marc Marquez tightened his grip on a possible sixth world title with a seventh consecutive victory at the German MotoGP yesterday. The 26-year-old Spaniard, who had earlier seen his younger brother Alex win the Moto2 race, led from start to finish to cross the line over four seconds ahead of the Yamaha of Maverick Vinales and Cal Crutchlow on another Honda. It is Marquez’ fifth victory in nine races this HOHENSTEIN-ERNSTTHAL: Repsol Honda Team’s Spanish rider Marc Marquez (right) steers his season which takes him to 185 points in the bike in front of Monster Energy Yamaha’ Spanish rider Maverick Vinales (center) and Suzuki championship standings, 69 clear of the Italian Ecstar’s Spanish rider Alex Rins during the Moto GP Grand Prix Germany yesterday. —AFP Andrea Dovizioso, who took fifth. “The race went to plan, I was riding out in front and enjoying myself,” said Marquez. “At the end I followed up his win in Assen last week with a Championship contenders Fabio Quartararo was thinking about my brother. I am very hap- feisty battle with Crutchlow which only ended and Alex Rins both lost ground after crashing py with this victory and very happy to have when the Briton eased off near the end. “A out. Rookie Frenchman Quartararo, who was the summer break in these conditions.” couple of laps to go I had a big moment with second last week in Assen, started in second It was a ruthless performance from my rear tyre so I thought I would let Maverick place but was quickly out of contention, slip- Marquez who has now won at each of his last have it,” Crutchlow said. ping down to sixth before sliding off on the 10 races at Sachsenring. He first won here in The Briton’s performance was all the more second lap. Rins was also running behind the 2010 in the 125cc race and followed that in remarkable given that he fractured his tibia leaders when he lost his front end going into a 2011 and 2012 with wins in Moto2. He has won and damaged his anterior cruciate ligament in corner with 12 laps to go and slithered across West Indies’ Chris Gayle every MotoGP in Germany since 2013. Vinales a cycling accident earlier in the week. the track into the sand. — AFP