Tour of Thailand cycling race
Quite by accident, I found out, via the path of Pathiu, that an international cycling race would be coming to Pathiu on Thursday, 8/10. The cycling race, Tour of Thailand, although it takes place almost entirely in the South, is officially called “Princes Maha Chakri Sirindon's Cup Tour of Thailand…. A whole sandwich. This international cycling race has existed since 2017.
The riders were scheduled to arrive here around 13.00:25. So look out at a strategic place. And yes, they were very well on schedule. The weather conditions were ideal for a cycling race: no sun (XNUMX°C), no rain, no wind. What more should a rider have?
The race consists of 6 stages over a total distance of 936 km:
- Bangkok – Samut Songkhram: 130 km
- Samut Songkhram – Ratchaburi: 108 km
- Ratchaburi – Prachuap Khiri Khan: 200km
- Prachuap Khiri Khan – Chumphon: 137 km
- Chumphon–Ranong: 219km
- Ranong – Surat Thani: 142 km
The Queen stage is the one from Chumphon to Ranong, a fairly tough course as this region is very hilly and there are therefore several calf biters in it.
There are several European participants from: Andorra, Spain, Estonia, France and Italy. The other participating countries are all Asian countries. The total number of participants this year is 117, so a nice peloton.
As in the other major tours, there are different leaderboards with:
- pink jersey: general classification
- purple sweater: Best Asian
- green jersey: points classification
- bollekes jersey: mountain classification
When crossing my strategic observation post, at 45 km from the finish, a group of six riders had clearly separated themselves with a 6 minute lead on a closed peloton. The guidance was perfect, only I lacked the 'green flag' which indicates the end of the passage.
There is also a 'women's tour' that starts from 14/10 to 16/10. This is fully driven in Surat Thani. This race includes 3 stages of 82-98-81km.
So we see: Thailand also does sports….
Coincidentally followed the stage to Chumphon via a live stream yesterday, Lung Addie! The Tour of Thailand on the iPad, and at the same time the Giro d'Italia on the TV. Well, you have to do something if you can't go back to Thailand yet and it's been blowing and raining here for many days so you can't go out by bike ...
Looked well organized. There was even a Dutchman in the leading group, Adrie van Engelen from the German BikeAid team.
Nice tip, Lung Addie!
Google “Tour of Thailand” and you will find several websites with all kinds of information
and results about this Tour of Thailand.
PBS broadcasts all stages on You Tube
what post tv can this follow?
Yes dear Gringo,
I also had to google to get the necessary information…. luckily we have the internet that makes us wiser. After all, it was quite by chance, the day before the passage, that I found out, and then with snags because the first information spoke of a passage on Sunday…..so quickly on the motorcycle to take a look . Was barely 4km from my door when they came through at the roundabout where I took the pictures.
The website: 'bicycle association of Thailand' contains a lot of information, including the results of the previous 3 years.
Nice to see this brought to attention. It's something different on this blog and in my opinion worth checking out. Thank you. Incidentally, there is a lot to do in the sporting field in Thailand and certainly in the field of endurance sports.
https://program.thaipbs.or.th/TourofThailand
Here is the link to watch live and the stage back.
I wonder. Have these foreign drivers also been quarantined for 14 days without training or spent those 14 days on the roller. Special. Elite race or professionals?
Yes, I know that, for example, the German BikeAid team - with 2 Dutch - has been in quarantine.
The race is basically at the Pro Tour level, but many participants are not full-time professionals.
Thailand is a wonderful country for cycling races and it will certainly be appreciated because it is a great sport!
For the organizers it seems more like a nightmare to get the route clear and 'empty', considering the indiscipline of the average Thai road user and the many stray dogs. But judging by the images of the stage I followed, she had succeeded very well. I was positively surprised!