Mohammed bin Rashid witnesses part of the conclusion of the desert race within the Al Salam Cycling Championship competitions

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, may God protect him, witnessed part of the conclusion of the main desert race within the competitions of the tenth edition of the Ladder Cycling Championship, which was held today (Sunday) under the patronage and directives of His Highness, and organized by the private office of His Highness the Ruler of Dubai.

Abdullah Al Ali from the Dubai Residency team was crowned champion of the Emirati category, Dan Edith Siot from the Shabab Al Ahly Omniyat team was crowned champion of the open nationalities category (general), and Nicole Louise from the Shabab Al Ahli Omniyat team was crowned champion of the women’s category, as this race was crowned the desert category competition following the success of the women’s race that was held yesterday, Saturday, and the total prize money for the two races reached 455 thousand dirhams.

An additional 80,000 dirhams were also allocated to eight challenges for different age groups that were held before and during the men’s race, most notably the “Ghadeer Barashi” 300-meter sprint challenge before the start of the main race.

After a strong competition that extended for a distance of 50 km amidst many and varied obstacles and challenges on the specified path in the Al Marmoum Nature Reserve, in the rest of the main race, for the Emirati category, Abdullah Al Hammadi, the individual participant, took second place, followed by Rashid Al Balushi from the Dubai Residency team in third place. As for the open nationalities (general) category, Shane Vermeltvoort from the Ahli Youth Omniat team came in second place, and Jason Toby from the Airwick 1 team came third, and in the competitions For the women, Maddie Black of the Dubai Residence Team came in second place, and Marion Fromberger of the Dubai Residence Team came in third.

In terms of teams, the Dubai Residency team achieved first place in the Emiratis category, followed by the Abu Dhabi Cycling Club team in second place, and the State Security Agency team in third place. In the open nationalities category, the Shabab Al Ahli Omniat team came in first place, the Dubai Residency team in second place, and the Airwick 1 team in third place.

In the over 40 years category for Emiratis, Nayef Al Marzouqi won from the Al Wathba Max Fit team, and in the over 40 years old category for open nationalities (general), Grega Poli won from the Omniat Shabab Al Ahly team.

Issa Al Mutaiwi, Deputy Director General of the Court of His Highness the Ruler of Dubai, awarded the race’s starting badge, in the presence of Sheikh Saeed bin Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, President of the Hatta Sports and Cultural Club.

The race, the largest of its kind in desert cycling races, witnessed a large participation of 172 participants from 41 nationalities and 23 teams, with 62 participants and 10 teams in the Emiratis category, 90 participants in the elite category and 8 teams, and 20 participants in the women’s category and 5 teams.

In implementation of the directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, may God protect him, Omair bin Juma Al Falasi, Director General of the Private Office of His Highness the Ruler of Dubai and Chairman of the Supreme Organizing Committee, announced that the tenth edition will conclude with the Arqoub Al Sadeira race, which was added for the first time and extends from the Al Samha area in Abu Dhabi all the way to Saih Al Salam in Dubai for a distance of 100 km, and will be held on February 8, and includes categories. Professionals, men’s club players, men’s amateurs, professional women’s club players, and amateurs, and it is held in cooperation with entities, most notably the Ministry of Interior, the Abu Dhabi Sports Council, the Dubai Sports Council, the Abu Dhabi Police General Headquarters, the Dubai Police General Headquarters, the Hamdan bin Mohammed Center for the Revival of Heritage, and the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Knowledge Foundation, in addition to the rest of the partners in the success of the ladder tournament.

He added: “The Arqoub Al Sedira race comes to enhance the status of the championship at the national level, as it will link two important areas, Al Samha in Abu Dhabi and Saih Al Salam in Dubai, and will provide the opportunity for all segments of society to participate, making it the best celebration of cycling.”

Omair bin Juma Al Falasi also extended his deepest thanks and gratitude to His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, may God protect him, for his unlimited support and generous follow-up of the desert races for men and women, and all the ladder championship races, which contributed to putting this championship on the global map in terms of the diversity of competitions and the volume of participation. He said: “The desert races have become a unique feature of the ladder championship at the level of The world, with the continuation of these races annually, the continuous innovation in obstacles, the increase in the number of participants and the record financial prizes, all of which we are always looking forward to building on for more with limitless ambition in order to enhance the status and role of this tournament in motivating society to practice sports activity and a healthy lifestyle.”

He congratulated all the participants for their efforts, and the success of the majority of them in successfully crossing the finish line, which reflects the development of the participants’ abilities over the ten years of the Ladder Championship, which has raised the spirits and brought out the best creativity among citizen and resident athletes in the United Arab Emirates.

It is noteworthy that the ladder championship is held in cooperation with a number of strategic partners, including: Dubai Police, Dubai Municipality, Roads and Transport Authority, Dubai Sports Council, Dubai Government Media Office, Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum International Photography Award, Dubai Sports Channel, Emirates Cycling Federation (general referee), and Dubai Film.