More than 1,000 cyclists join ‘Ride for Roy’

Dubai: More than 1,000 cyclists joined the “Ride For Roy” event in Dubai on Friday morning to honour Roy Nasr, who was tragically struck down by a drunk driver in September.

Wearing a red-black-and-white TriDubai cycling top Castelli jerseys, the riders were flagged down at 7.30am at the Atlantis, The Palm, and pedalled their way around the Meydan cycling track.

The event, organised by TriDubai Club which Nasr co-founded, commemorated the life of the triathlon veteran in procession cycle ride which was divided into 32.5-km and 65-km segments.

“We ride in honour of Roy’s memory and to thank him for the tremendous impact he had on hundreds of lives, both inside the triathlete community and out,” an organiser said.

Support cars and big bikes joined the group, too.

The cyclists, who were flagged off in batches of around 100 participants, made a brief stop at the Meydan cycle track for refreshments and toilet break.

Everyone enjoyed a slow-and-steady cycle together. By around 11am, at the end of the ride, there were no winners or no age categories.

“It was a fun community ride, not a race,” said Floyd, who joined the event. “It was encouraging everyone to adopt Roy's sense of community spirit for the ride.”

Proceeds from the ride will go the Roy Nasr Memorial Fund – to help pay for the education of Roy’s children left behind by the tragedy.