Hong Kong cyclist wins 1st prize in Sayram Lake Cycling Race

BEIJING, June 1 -- A team from Hong Kong and one of its members have taken the top two prizes in the Sayram Lake Cycling Race held in the Bortala Mongolian Autonomous Prefecture in Xinjiang Uigur Autonomous Region.

Sunday, Jian Zhihang from CMS team claimed the individual championship. His team won the team championship.

Soundbite: Wang Xinhe, minister of the department of publicity in Bortala This year's race was more competitive than before with 9 teams outside Xinjiang joining us. We have nearly 150 competitors belonging to 29 teams. The number was 110 a year ago.

This year's race had its first foreign competitors since it began in 2007. Organizers hope the trend continues.

Soundbite: Wang Xinhe, minister of the department of publicity in Bortala We are more confident after successfully holding the third Tour of Sayram Lake Cycling Race. We are determined to make this race famous not only in Xinjiang but also in the whole country."

The four-stage Tour of Sayram Lake Cycling Race kicked off Friday and finished Sunday.

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Xinjiang

¡¡(Source: XHTV)