Bandar Seri Begawan - The most anticipated cycling event in Brunei's sports calendar has finally begun when Stage One of the Brunei-Butra HeidelbergCement Tour De Brunei 2012 commenced at the Butra HeidelbergCement Factory, Muara yesterday.

On hand to flag off the first leg of the race was the Managing Director of Butra HeidelbergCement Sdn Bhd, Mr Marceline Ugarte.

As is customary at the beginning of each stage, a rolling start was led by the Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports, Pehin Orang Kaya Pekerma Laila Diraja Dato Seri Setia Awg Hj Hazair bin Hj Abdullah, who was accompanied by Dato Paduka Awg Hj Mohd Hamid bin Hj Mohd Jaafar, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports, and a group of cyclists from Bank Islam Brunei Darussalam (BIBD).

The race is divided into five stages. Each route would take the cyclists through various terrains and challenging courses in the Brunei-Muara, Tutong and Belait Districts.

Stage One was a 93.1-kilometre route that took the riders from the Butra HeidelbergCement Factory in Muara to Bandar Seri Begawan. It began with a rolling start for about two kilometres before the actual race commenced. The stage ended at the BSB Waterfront.

The presentation of jerseys to the winners of Stage One was held at the finish line just after 12 Noon.

Stage Two will start today at Jalan Residency, Bandar Seri Begawan and finish at the field of the Tutong District Office in Jalan Sungai Basong.

--Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin