Dutch cyclist Koning ranks 1st in Tour of Iran 2016

Professional Dutch racing cyclist Peter Koning has claimed the top spot in the 31st edition of the Tour of Iran (Azarbaijan) in Iran.

On Saturday, the 25-year-old rider of Australia’s Drapac Professional Cycling (UCI) team assessed his chances in a 209.4-kilometer-long (130.1-mile-long) race from the northwestern Iranian city of Urmia to the Aras Free Trade-Industrial Zone. He clocked 4:37.10 to stand atop the podium.

Arvin Goudarzi of Pishgaman Yazd Cycling Team registered 4:42.02 to stand behind the professional Dutch racing cyclist and pick up the silver medal, while Shahrdari Tabriz’s Ahad Kazemi posted a winning time of 4:42.05 to land in the third spot and earn a bronze.

Earlier on May 13, American contender Connor McCutcheon performed well in the first stage of the cycling tournament, and passed across the finish line after riding a distance of 162.4 kilometers (100.9 miles) from Tabriz to Urmia to be awarded the gold medal.

He was followed by Iranian contestants Samad Pourseyedi and Kazemi of Shahrdari Tabriz team, who were the second and third finishers respectively and pocketed the silver and bronze medals.

The 31st edition of Tour of Iran (Azarbaijan) kicked off on May 13, and will run through May 18, 2016.

A total of 21 teams have taken part in the tournament. The tour has six stages, with the total length of 1,005 kilometers (624.4 miles).

For the first time in the history of Tour of Iran (Azarbaijan), American UCI Continental cycling Team Illuminate is taking part.

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