Bandar Seri Begawan - The first-ever international cycling event held in the Sultanate kick-started with the first flag-off for stage one of the race at Jalan Sultan yesterday.
Officiating the ceremony for the ButraHeidelbergCement Tour de Brunei 2011 was the Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports, Pehin Orang Kaya Pekerma Laila Diraja Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Hazair Hj Abdullah at 11am sharp.
Stage one of the race covered a distance of 149.6 kilometres. It started at Jalan Sultan, Bandar Seri Begawan and finished in front of Dewan Santap, Jalan Maulana, Kuala Belait.
Cyclist endured the midday sun passing various national landmarks including the Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque, Jame' Asr Hassanil Bolkiah, Wasan padi fields as well as the One Billionth Barrel Monument in Panaga.
Also present during the flag-off ceremony was Deputy Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports, Datin Paduka Hjh Adina binti Hj Othman, Permanent Secretary Dato Paduka Hj Mohd Hamid Hj Mohd Jaafar, Deputy Permanent Secretary Hj Ismail POKPS Dato Paduka Hj Hashim, Tourism Development Director, Sheikh Jamaluddin Sheikh Mohamed and other senior ministerial officers.
Support for the Brunei teams - the Brunei National Cycling Team and Lof Bread Team - were also seen at various checkpoints along the racetrack.
Stage two of the Butra HeidelbergCement Tour de Brunei 2011 will continue today (Sept 8) with the flag-off at KBRC Sport Arena, Kuala Belait. It will end at Padang Jabatan Daerah Tutong, Tutong Town
On Friday (Sept 9), the third stage will concentrate in Tutong District whereas stage four will be a 104.7-kilometre race that will begin at Padang Jabatan Daerah Tutong, Tutong Town and end in front of TAIB Headquarters, Bandar Seri Begawan.
The final stage is the Bandar Seri Begawan Circuit whereby cyclists will race around the parameters of Bandar Seri Begawan.
Members of the public are welcome to witness the event at the said locations. Flag-off time for each stage will be at 11am.
