The 5th Bicycle Race to Dien Bien Phu – People’s Army Newspaper Cup will take place from May 1 to 5 – Photo: People’s Army Newspaper
The 2024 bicycle race to Dien Bien Phu is held on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the historic victory of Dien Bien Phu (May 7, 1954 – May 7, 2024).
The tournament takes place from May 1 to 5, with the participation of 70 professional athletes from 10 racing teams, including: Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Military Region 7, An Giang, Dong Thap, Dong Nai, Binh Duong, Vinh Long, Thanh Hoa and Hoa Binh.
Besides, the race also brings together 300 amateur athletes to join and cheer. Racers compete on a total route of 525km, from the capital Hanoi to Dien Bien Phu city (Dien Bien province).
The five races are meant to be a historical chapter reviewing the nation’s heroic traditions.
Specifically, stage 1: “Thang Long – Thousand years of civilization” with a distance of 40.8km, around Hoan Kiem Lake; Stage 2: “All troops launch” with a distance of 132km, from Hanoi to Mai Chau (Hoa Binh).
Stage 3: “Opening the way to the Northwest” with a distance of 136km, from Van Ho district (Son La) to Son La city; Stage 4: “Entering Muong Thanh” with a distance of 157km, from Son La city to Dien Bien Phu city (Dien Bien province); Stage 5: “Song of Victory” with a distance of 40.8km, around Dien Bien Phu city.
In each race, the organizing committee will award prizes to the riders ranked first to fifth, with rewards of 10 million VND, 7 million VND, 5 million VND and 2 million VND for fourth and fifth places, respectively. There are also prizes along the way for each stage, for the three best riders with rewards of 2 million, 1.5 million and 1 million VND.
Major General Doan Xuan Bo – editor-in-chief of the People’s Army newspaper, head of the organizing committee – information about the race – Photo: People’s Army Newspaper
Speaking about the race, Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Vu – general secretary of the Vietnam Bicycle and Motor Sports Federation – said: “One of the challenges has become the “specialty” of the Bicycle Race to Dien Bien. There are tough mountain passes, conquering Cun slope, Thung Khe pass, Pha Din pass.
These are also the passes where our ancestors overcame many difficulties and fierceness during the historic Dien Bien Phu Campaign. Participating in the race, the riders also have to face challenging passes, which brings a sense of historical value and national pride.”
Within the framework of the race, many social security and gratitude activities will be carried out by the organizing committee in coordination with sponsors and local authorities.
The total estimated cost for the activities is about 9.5 billion VND, including: donating 12 gratitude houses; Build a school worth about 6.5 billion VND in Dien Bien; awarded 30 sanitation facilities to schools in Hoa Binh, Son La, Lai Chau; giving gifts to policy beneficiaries in Hanoi, Hoa Binh, Son La, Dien Bien Phu city; presented 127 gifts to veterans, young volunteers, and front-line civilians participating in the Dien Bien Phu Campaign living in Dien Bien province.
