Dh1.5m on offer in endurance ride

Abu Dhabi: A strong contingent of UAE riders and around 18 international riders are to battle it out for a slice of a whopping Dh1.5 million on offer in today's 160km The President of the UAE endurance ride.

The prestigious event is being staged at the Emirates International Endurance Village in Al Wathba.

While the final list of entries will be known just before the start of the event, around 130 have already registered with Shaikh Hamdan Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and the winner of the ride in 2008, likely to be in the fray.

Around 18 top riders from Europe and the US have been invited but the local UAE riders are expected to dominate with Al Reef's Stable rider Sultan Ahmad Al Beloushi looking to complete a hat-trick, having won this prestigious ride in 2010 and 2011.

Challengers

Adnan Sultan Al Nuaimi, Director General said: "The total prize fund is Dh1.5 million and we also have four cars, one each to the top three in the individual competition and one for the team winners.

"Like last year riders can form teams of between three or four riders and the three best finish timings will count for the team winners," he said. Meanwhile, among the international challengers are American Lindsay Graham who is expected to be on Monk in preparation for the World Endurance Championship while Britain will be represented by Catriona Moon on 13-year-old Laila.

Sweden's Annelie Eriksson and Italy's Diana Origgi will also be trying to stop the strong UAE challenge which also includes European Open champion Ali Khalfan Al Jahouri and Pan Arab Games champion Yousuf Ahmad Al Beloushi.

Today's 160km ride gets off to a mass start and will be run in six stages of 34kms, 31km, 31km, 26km, 22km and 16 km.