With an overall third place-finish in the Tour of President in Iran, Doha Team cyclists kept it on the top of the Asian rankings. Ezzidine Lagab was the highest placed cyclist for it, getting an overall seventh place.

Its two other riders also did well. Rafai Chtioui, who was thrice on the podium in five stages, was rewarded with a Kia car as well. Abdulmalik Madani earned the Polka-dotted jersey. Iranian riders of Tabriz Petrochemical Team, led by Ghader Mizbani Iranagh dominated the event, winning four out of top six spots in the overcall classification. According to reports, the Tour of President was a tough race and included national and club teams from host Iran, Qatar, Algeria, Syria, Uzbekistan, Japan, the Netherlands, Grmany, Armenia and Belgium. The Iranian teams clinched the top two places in the overall general classification. TPT was followed by another Iranian team, Azad University in the second place and Doha Team in the third place. Chtioui, a Tunisian recruit for the Doha Team, was the best performer for it, finishing second once and third twice and helping his team collect valuable points. The second stage, a 136-km run from Tehran to Qazvin after the 8.5-km prologue, was quite productive for the Qatari team. Chtioui got the third place and two points. Farid Belhani was fifth and Madani was awarded the Polka jersey and the Doha Team rose to the second place in the standings

after the Algerian national team. Chtioui continued to work hard and secured more points for his team, repeating his thirdplace finish in the third stage, run over 115 kms distance between Tehran and Kandovan. The fourth stage from Qom to Tehran, a distance of 117 kms, saw Farid Belhani bag the ninth fastest and in the fifth and last stage, Chtioui put in his best and took the second place, inspiring teammate Lagab wrest an overall seventh spot and the team to the overall third. Lagab displayed appreciable strength and determination during the event. He continued to work diligently and was rewarded with an overall seventh place eventually.

Writer : Sonia Azad