Dubai: The UAE national team is hoping for a much better show when they participate in the 2018 Asian Road and Para Cycling Championships to be held in Nay Pyi Taw in Myanmar till February 12.
Fielding a full roster of seven cyclists, the UAE team is being led by Mohammad Al Mansouri at this week’s Dubai Tour that runs till February 10. Immediately after this event, the four-member squad comprising of UAE Team Emirates’ star Yousuf Mirza, Mohammad Al Mansouri, Mohammad Al Murraw’wi and Jaber Al Mansouri will head to Myanmar in time for their events on February 11 and 12.
The 38th Asian Cycling Championships is scheduled to be held alongside the 25th Asian Junior Cycling Championships and the 7th Asian Para-Cycling Championships in Nay Pyi Taw in Myanmar from February 6-12.
“The challenge lies in dealing with the tough schedule we have before us. We cannot change anything, but just stay focused on what we ought to do during this week and next,” UAE national team coach Badr Mirza, elder brother of Yousuf told Gulf News on the sidelines of the 2018 Dubai Tour.
“Traditionally, we have done well in the Asian Cycling Championships. But this time I feel we are better prepared to mount a serious challenge and return home with at least the gold medal,” he added.
Yousuf Mirza is the star of the national team. Three years back, Mirza went on to claim silver at the 2015 Asian Cycling Championships in Thailand and book his place for the 237.5km road race at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games.
“We depend a lot on him [Yousuf]. But he is just one of the four riders. The others are equally important and we expect them to do well and back Yousuf in qualifying a second time for the Olympics,” Mirza confided.
“This is our chance. We can go in with a great rhythm, and with Yousuf being in a purely professional set-up with UAE Team Emirates and we expect him to be a much better and more experienced rider four years on. There is no pressure. It will be a team effort in the end,” he added.
