Fifteen foreign teams have expressed their willingness to compete in the 2006 Tour de Qinghai Lake International Cycling Race, said Qinghai Administration of Sport on Thursday.

Tour de Qinghai Lake has been held successfully for four years, becoming one of the top international cycling races as well as the biggest ones in Asia.

Its special environment and high latitude attract a lot of cycling clubs both home and abroad. Twenty teams form five continents with cyclists from twenty-seven countries and regions attended this year's event.

Qinghai, located in Qinghai-Tibetan plateau, is also home to Tibetan Antilope, which has been selected as one the five 2008 Beijing Olympic mascots, named Ying Ying.

"We'll let more people know the Tibetan Antilope as well as the province through the Tour de Qinghai Lake,"said Feng Jianping, director of Qinghai Administration of Sport.

Source: Xinhua