MUSCAT, MARCH 8
The Oman Cycling Association will organise the Oman Mountain Bike Endurance Championship on March 12 where there will be participants from nine countries in the fray.
It will be the first time the event will be held in the Middle East and West Asia.
This championship is considered as a qualifier for the World Mountain Bike Endurance Championship series, which is already in the calendar of the International Cycling Union.
Its classification times are within the second level ‘out of 3 levels’, in Al Wadi Al Kabir in Muttrah, with participation of our Omani National Cycling Team and the race will include 5 stages suitable for intermediate and advanced riders, as endurance races are designed to be a real test for mountain bikers with competition and challenge in one of the most beautiful terrains of the Omani mountains.
Regarding this championship, Saif bin Sebaa al Rashidi, President of the Omani Cycling Association, said: The Oman Mountain Bike Endurance Championship crosses the national championship officially registered with the International Cycling Union, where the championship determines Oman’s champion in mountain bike endurance races for men and women, and the winners of the first places will get past UCI rating points plus cash prize.
Al Rashidi added at the press conference which was held yesterday at the Oman Olympic Committee in Al Ghubra, that Oman Mountain Bike Endurance Championship consists of 5 transitional stages.
It is with a time calculation for 20 km, and the beginning and the end – Hamriya Street ‘Yeti’, Muscat is often characterised by rocky terrain, with a technical level of medium to low according to the standards of the World Mountain Bike Championship, all obstacles in the track are suitable for different levels, this race requires a reasonable level of fitness with more than 600 metres of climb.
Al Rashidi indicated that there is a wide participation of cyclists, both male and female, who will participate in this championship, representing nine countries.
The President of the Oman Cycling association said: At this level of international sporting events, there is no room for doubt in the great organisational and professional capacity of the Omani Federation.
This championship has been included in the schedule of the International Federation and one of the qualifying races for the 2022 World Championships.
He adds, our goal is to be on the international cycling map, as this type of mountain racing is the first of its kind to be organised in the Middle East and West Asia and Giving the Omani youth the opportunity to compete and highlight their abilities is a priority for the Oman Cycling Federation and provide the necessary capabilities.
The head of the Oman Cycling Federation indicated that all the referees officiating in the championship are Omanis, due to the presence of two of them as international referees in this field, namely Sultan al Rawahi and Saud al Rawahi.