Today's 100-kilometre event will take the riders through some of Egypt's most historic sites. The ride, with the imposing pyramids and the Sphinx in the background, will take the riders past the Sakkara step pyramid and the Abu Sier pyramid. The route will also weave through a number of ancient temples and tombs making the ride a very challenging and prestigious contest.

The whiff of fresh air and the pleasant evening climate when one got out of the Cairo Airport was a welcome change to the frustratingly slow immigration formalities the fairly large number of officials, scribes and other technical delegates heading for the Al Ahram International Endurance Championship faced on Thursday.
While the Emirates flight landed at 4.55 local time, the team comprising vet officials carrying medicines, ride officials with equipment for the computerised timing system finally got out of the airport at around 9.00 pm.

Delay
Bureaucratic, intelligence, security and formalities were the words used to explain the delay. However, the minute one exited the airport the cool climate seemed to have assuaged the ruffled feelings of all and all was soon forgotten. Later yesterday, however, one was reminded of those frustrating hours at the airport when one of the trainers said the delay was faced when his horses were entering through the airport was "dramatic" and "traumatic". A good start for the "endurance" horses much before the main event itself.
The Mena House Oberoi, a sprawling hotel which almost adjoins the Khofo Pyramid with the two smaller Khafran and Mankharan Pyramids a few hundred metres away, has in fact been transformed into a mini endurance village.

While the presence of General Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Minister of Defence, has increased the number security personnel, there have been an equally large number of locals waiting to have a glimpse of Sheikh Mohammed, the winner of last year's 100-kilometre ride here.

Almost all UAE officials for the ride are based here and the hotel is adorned with large posters of Sheikh Mohammed on horseback.
The event, besides generating a lot on interest among the locals here, has also attracted a lot of foreign press.

TV crews from most countries where endurance riding is popular are here to cover the ride. Last year the news agencies had pictures of Sheikh Mohammed during the ride with the pyramids in the background. Many tourists were seeking information on the event as well as the UAE participation. Quite a few tourists are expected to watch today's ride.