MUSCAT, Sept 25
The Oman Cycling Association (OCA) League Championship 2021-22 kicked off with the 47 km first round happening from Al Sawadi to Blue City (Al Madina Al Zarqa) in Muscat on Friday.
Cycle KOM – NRO, captained by Paul Willcox, clinched opening honours after they completed the distance in 1 hour, 4 minutes and 5 seconds.
Royal Army Oman team finished a close second (1:04:41) and Capital Team ended third (1:04:45).
Oman Club (1:05:43) and Elite Team (1:06:38) completed the fourth and fifth rankings respectively in the first round competed by 25 teams.
Cycle KOM skipper Willcox, last season’s overall runner-up and 40 plus category winner, said his team survived some anxious moments to finally prevail.
“Our team comprising of Abdullah, Dan, David, Greg and myself set off on our allotted time. A smooth start got us up to race pace, then within 7 minutes disaster struck when we lost David (feeling unwell). The remaining four continued, and we made the turn with the half circuit run back with the wind,” Willcox told the Observer.
“At 26 km (just over halfway) is where we lost Greg to fatigue. The three of us now knew that one more out and our race is over with the requirement of the time of the third man across the line counting. Knowing our time was still good, and being the strongest left and also a strong time trialist, I told Dan and Abdullah to just sit on my wheel and conserve energy for the remainder. I kept us on track and relief ensued when we crossed the line, not only three intact but with a solid time too, 1h:04m:04s,” the rider from United Kingdom said.
“It was enough to edge out the Royal Army (2nd) and Capital team (3rd) who finished on the same minute as us, but fortunately seconds back. It was a perfect start to the OCA season and the team look forward to the second round and first road race in October,” Willcox added.
EIGHT-RACE LEAGUE
The second race of the eight-race League will be an individual road race for 98 km from The Wave to the Civil Aviation Club in Muscat on October 22.
The OCA League races is being held for under-23 category, 40 and above and elite or Open (23 and above).
Open category leader will get red jersey, while leader for 40 years and above claim green jersey and under-23 leader takes white jersey.
Races are planned for women as well if there are a minimum of five contestants.
The races are as follows: second race (5 laps), third race (2 laps), fourth race (1 lap), fifth race, eighth race (10 laps).
Same races are also planned for junior riders.
The female race is only held with the participation of 5 or more contestants.
The female and junior events will be individual races without championship points.
