I stay away from my family for 6 months annually for “bikes”

The UAE captain of the bicycle team, Ahmed Al -Mansoori, confirmed that he started the game of bicycles 22 years ago, and graduated in the teams of the Sunni stages and team Away from his family in camps, training and external championships, as he explained that the game of bicycles is very expensive and needs a sacrifice, whether physical, financial or family.

Al -Mansouri is the first Emirati to win the golden of the Islamic Solidarity session that was held in Türkiye last year in 2022. He looks forward to participating in the upcoming Olympic Games (Los Angeles 2028). He is currently participating with the participating bicycle team in the Asian Championships of the Road and the Restore in both Thailand and Malaysia, as tomorrow the general individual race (the last championship races) will run.

Al -Mansouri talked about his career with bicycle, and the sacrifice that it provides for the rise to the Olympics, asserting to «Emirates Today»: “The game started 22 years ago and specifically since 2003, and it graduated from the national clubs and team There are many sacrifices, as the bicycle game is one of the most powerful games that need time, work, effort and large sums of money, as the game takes approximately 70 to 75% of the bike time, where you need morning and evening training, in addition to moving from one championship to another, This reduces the chances of sitting with the family and the family. ”

He added: “I spend almost five to six months a year away from my family, between training, camps and external partnerships in various championships, in order to achieve achievements.”

Al -Mansouri pointed out that the cost of exercising bicycles due to its high prices and monthly maintenance, and said: “The bicycle game is very expensive, as the level in which we compete with world players need bicycles at a high level, as the price of a bike reaches 80 or 90 thousand dirhams, and a road race bike. It differs from the bands bikes, and in the world championships you must have an alternative bike, and an accident may occur during the race that breaks the bike, which represents a high cost.

He added: «As for the monthly maintenance and vitamins that the cyclist is eating, it may cost approximately 6000 dirhams, and during the track championships in which I participate, I must travel in every championship and with three bicycles, the first to warm up and the main training, and the second bike is the main one in which I am in the race only, either The third bike is an alternative to the main bike, so that if I had an accident during the race, I switch it at the same time. ”

On his ambition in the coming period, Al -Mansouri said: “We worked hard before the past Olympiad and the Olympic Committee was not short, as well as the bicycle union, but we did not succeed in qualifying. The ambition is still as it is, and it is the rise to the next Olympiad in Los Angeles 2028, especially as we have enough time, as well as contracting with a global coach, the Canadian Richard Walls.

Regarding the best achievement in his career, he said: “There are many situations that I will not forget, including the Asian Games, where I had the honor to carry the state flag in the opening of the championship, in addition to achieving the first gold medal in the history of the Emirates participation in Islamic Games since its foundation, in addition To the first gold medal for bicycles at the Asian Games. ”

Regarding the impact of Youssef Mirza’s retirement, Al -Mansouri said: “The responsibility has become great, I did not feel it before Youssef Mirza retired, but at the same time he always communicated with us, and a president of the team and the players supported.”

. We have enough time to qualify for the Los Angeles Olympics, especially after contracting with a global coach.