More than 90 cyclists from Vietnam and six other nations will compete in the annual Binh Duong International Women’s Cycling Tournament: Biwase Cup 2019 which will be held from March 8-16.

Vietnam's Nguyen Thi Thi becomes yellow jersey winner of Binh Duong International Women’s Cycling Tournament: Biwase Cup 2018 - Illustrative image (Source: binhduong.gov.vn)

Speaking at a press conference on March 5, head of the organising board Ngo Van Lui said that the competition – co-organised by the Vietnam Cycling and Sport Motors Federation and the Binh Duong Water Supply Sewerage-Environment Co., Ltd., (Biwase) – will attract the participation of nine domestic and seven foreign teams, including two from Japan, and one each from the Republic of Korea, Malaysia, Thailand, the Philippines, and Australia.

This is the first time Australian cyclists have joined the tournament, Lui stated.

With a total length of over 800 km, female cyclists will compete in nine stages and conquer sloping passes such as Bao Loc and Prenn in the Central Highlands province of Lam Dong, Cu Hin in the central province of Nha Trang, and Vinh Hy in the central province of Ninh Thuan.

The cash prizes amount to a total of nearly 400 million VND (17,230 USD).

Vice Chairman of the Vietnam Cycling and Sport Motors Federation Ngo Quang Vinh said that the annual tournament is organised to help improve the skills of domestic cyclists in preparation for national and international cycling tournaments in 2019. –VNA