Much-anticipated XC-MTB race successfully held in Al Khor
THE much awaited first proper C-MTB race of the 2020/2021 cycling season was successfully held in Al Khor this weekend.
The event was attended by 200 participants spread over 4 races with 11 categories, in total catering riders as young as 4 to 57-years-old.
The outdoor off-road cycling event was organized in collaboration with atar Cycling Federation ( CF) and the nited Filipino Mountain Bikers atar ( FMB ).
Szymon Wasiak, Head coach of CF commented that the organization of the race was already on the top level for a grassroots community event like this.
“The race organizers, volunteers, and marshals from
FMB did a great job in keeping the flow of the race smooth and safe for everyone.”
He commended that with this kind of race organization, atar will be ready to go up one level and organize a proper CI C MTB Race in
the future.
He also added, “The atmosphere created by the Filipino mountain bike community is so overwhelming and the support and cheers of fellow mountain bikers on the route added a lot of fun and motivation for the riders climbing those steep climbs.”
Along with the Duhail MTB trail, the Al Khor Playground MTB trail had become one of the most popular C MTB racecourses in atar. It has been a crowd favorite not only because of its scenic view of the Al Khor bay but because the trail is so dynamic and has a lot to offer when it comes to
trail features that can cater to newbies, experienced, and pro mountain bikers alike. It has a lot of short but steep climbs which creates intensity because there are fewer recovery areas in between those short climbs and when there are climbs, there are also descends and drops and a lot of sections
that are technical which demands a lot of focus to maintain your pace and to avoid crashes. And the trail keeps on evolving every season, thanks to the help of Team El Padyakero, a local Mountain biking community based on Al Khor under the FMB umbrella who is maintaining and building this trail network.
The atar National team riders made a clean sweep
with Abdullah Aljaiidi (Team Doha Cycling) winning the main race of the day in front of Marwan Al alham and Nayef Al Mesalam (both Team Rasen Adventure Shop).
Abdullah attacked on the first lap and maintained it until the end, even managing to increase the gap of the riders in every lap until the finish.
Open Expats category was won by Kees Wouters (NED -
Team Rasen Adventure Shop) followed by Andres Bustos Del Valle (ARG - Team Los Gauchos) and Clark Arvin Andrada (PHI-Team SMCC APO Lakay)
The race also witnessed the most number of female participants in a local MTB race with 17 ladies in 3 women handicap categories finishing the race.
The winner of the main women’s race was ulie Melville (A S - Team Rasen Adventure Shop), followed by Daniela Sposi (GBR - Team Rasen Adventure Shop), and Carla Pregigueiro (ESP - Team Doha Cycling).
FMB Co-founders and event directors ohn Bonalos and Ferdie Bermejo thanked their fellow race organizers and volunteers and also thanked the management of
atar Cycling Federation for the full support for the community MTB races that FMB is continuously organizing.
The race was also made possible by Skate Shack Doha, and Rayyan Natural Water.
Another challenging MTB race is about to happen in December, the organizers said.