18 countries participate in the Sharjah International Cycling Tour
Sharjah, January 14 / WAM / The organizing committee of the Sharjah International Cycling Tour announced, during a press conference held at the Sharjah Falconers Club, the details of the eleventh edition of the Tour, which is held annually under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, during the period from 23 to 27 January this year.
The committee explained that the new edition will witness the participation of 162 cyclists representing 27 teams and national teams from 18 countries, competing in five stages, with a total distance of 503 kilometers, in addition to organizing two local races for the categories of people of determination and youth within the third stage, in addition to a number of accompanying and entertainment events.
The press conference was attended by Sheikh Dr. Khalid bin Humaid Al Qasimi, Chairman of the Sharjah Sports Council, His Excellency Abdullah Sultan Al Dah, member of the Sharjah Sports Council and Chairman of the Tour’s Organizing Committee, His Excellency Mansour Bouasiba, President of the Emirates Cycling Federation, Dr. Ashraf Mohammed, Secretary General of the Arab Cycling Federation, His Excellency Muhammad Obaid Al Hasan, Secretary General of the Sharjah Sports Council, His Excellency Retired Major General Saif Al Zari Al Shamsi, former Commander-in-Chief of Sharjah Police, and Dr. Yasser Omar Al Dokhi, Director of the Sharjah Sports Council. The tour, along with a large number of representatives of sponsoring and supporting entities and institutions, directors of departments and sections of the Sharjah Sports Council, members of the organizing committees, and representatives of the media.
In his speech during the conference, His Excellency Abdullah Sultan Al-Dah stressed the organizing committee’s keenness to continue the organizational excellence of the tour and enhance its role in promoting tourism in the Emirate of Sharjah, pointing out the introduction of new routes in this year’s edition, which tour a number of diverse landmarks that combine heritage and modernity, and reflect the civilizational and cultural identity of the emirate.
The conference witnessed the showing of a documentary about the previous edition of the Tour, followed by a presentation presented by Tour Director Dr. Yasser Omar Al-Dokhi, in which he covered the details of the race and its most prominent numbers, in addition to the participating teams and teams and the countries they represent.
The tour director also announced the details of the five stages, as the first stage begins on Friday, January 23, for a distance of 129.6 kilometers, from Flag Island and concludes at the wheat farm in Mleiha, and bears the name “Pride and Giving,” in reference to the national symbolism of Flag Island and the wheat farm that embodies the emirate’s efforts in achieving food security. The second stage will be held on Saturday, January 24, for a distance of 129.56 kilometers, and starts in front of Jubail Market in Sharjah and ends at Al-Jubail Market in the city of Kalba, and bears the name “Al-Jubail”, in reference to the modern heritage markets that are considered one of the most prominent tourist attractions in the emirate.
As for the third stage, it will be held on Sunday, January 25, for a distance of 9.81 kilometers in an anti-clock system. It begins and concludes in the town of Al-Hira, and is called “Al-Hira.” It is accompanied by the organization of two races for the categories of people of determination and youth, with the aim of providing these two groups with the opportunity for international contact and experiencing the atmosphere of cruising. The fourth stage begins on Monday, January 26, for a distance of 133 kilometers, from Dibba Al-Hisn Island, and concludes at the drag rest area in the city of Khorfakkan, which is called “Al Sharqiya”, in reference to the cities of the eastern coast of the Emirate of Sharjah.
The circumnavigation competitions will conclude with the fifth and final stage on Tuesday, January 27, for a distance of 100.99 kilometers. It starts in front of the Sharjah Falconers Club and ends at the Sharjah Grand Mosque. It is called “Heritage and Civilization,” in reference to the sport of falconry and the Islamic cultural heritage embodied by the mosque’s architecture.
Dr. Yasser Al-Dokhi pointed out the participation of approximately 400 volunteers in various organizing committees, in addition to organizing accompanying activities at all stages, including marine shows from the Sharjah International Marine Sports Club, heritage shows from the Sharjah Heritage Institute, and participation from a number of government agencies and institutions, in addition to corners for productive families and entertainment events at the teams’ residences.
At the conclusion of the conference, representatives of the sponsors of the Excellence Shirts delivered their speeches, as the Sharjah Police General Command sponsors the yellow shirt for the best time, the Commerce and Tourism Development Authority sponsors the green shirt for the best speed points, Sharjah Municipality sponsors the red shirt for the best hill climber, and the Sharjah Sports Channel sponsors the white shirt for the best time for the youth category, while the Sharjah Sports Council sponsors the UAE flag shirt for the best time among citizen riders.
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