KUALA LUMPUR: Even though the race is being organised for the very first time, the organisers of the Tour de Iskandar Johor (TdIJ) cycling race which will take place from April 17-21 have assured that there will be no doubts or questions as to whether prize money will be paid out to the winners as they will prepare a bank draft that will be handed over to the Malaysian National Cycling Federation (MNCF) within the very near future.
TdIJ race director, Mohd Amrin Zairy Adham said that the overall prize money for the five stage race is close to RM100,000.
“All in all the prize money is around or slightly more than RM97,000. Whatever it is we have prepared a bank draft that will be handed over to MNCF on March 17 (Sunday), as we have to hand it over a month before the race dates.
“We want it to be settled as soon as possible because we do not want any issues with regards to the payment of prize money, so if possible by the fifth day of the race (the final stage) we will settle all the necessary payments especially where prize money is concerned,” he said here earlier today.
Amrin said that the riders will not have to wait until after the doping tests are carried out in order to receive their prize money as is the practice with other races.
“It’s just that if there are positive cases then the team involved will have to return or reimburse the prize money won by the rider to us,” he pointed out.
Before this, some local riders have complained about the delay in payment of prize money that has happened with a couple of other local races.
On the issue of safety and security personnel who will also be on duty for the Le Tour de Langkawi (LTdL) which takes place from April 6-13, Amrin explained that the police have already given assurances that there will not be any issues or problems when it comes to security and safety personnel who will be on duty during the duration of the TdIJ.
“I have been informed that the police that they will divide their personnel accordingly into two groups, with one group for the LTdL, with the other group earmarked for the TdIJ. So we have received confirmation on this matter,” he added.
