Dubai: Sharjah Sports Council is putting the final touches to the inaugural Sharjah Cycling Tour, which will be held in the emirate from November 21-24.
Organised under the auspices of the UAE Cycling Federation (UAE CF), the four-day competition is expected to attract 12 to 15 teams from all over the world. The Tour will consist of a time trial and three road stages within the boundaries of Sharjah.
“This is the first time that such a high-level event is being organised here and we want to ensure we have the best riders coming to the UAE,” said Mohammad Mehrab Al Sabbagh, UAE CF Board Member, Director of Finance and Technical Committee Head.
“The idea is to get top-class riders exposed to what Sharjah has to offer in cycling and in the world of tourism.”
The UAE will put out at least two teams, along with other entrants from the likes of Oman, Bahrain, Egypt, Algeria, Iraq, Qatar, Tunisia, Australia, France, Philippines and South Africa.
“In keeping with our youth development policy, we will have junior riders competing so that they get the necessary exposure to such high-level competition,” Al Sabbagh added.
Efforts are also on to have separate teams who will represent continents to make the competition even more interesting.
Meanwhile, Samuel Robert of the BMC Team took top honours in the inaugural masters competition organised by the UAE CF last weekend.
Robert finished ahead of the Wolfi Team duo of Andrew Mark and Mark Edward in the 40km race, which was held in the mountainous region of Kalba.
The masters category for all riders aged over 30 is the latest addition to an ambitious calendar planned by the new board of the UAE CF under the presidency of Osama Al Shafar, Khalfan Al Nuaimi and Ahmad Al Khoury, who have decreed that any expatriate can now officially be part of cycling in the UAE.
“The Zayed Velodrome is open to all nationalities and we would urge everyone to come and be part of the experience of safe cycling,” Al Sabbagh said.
