Mirza secures National Championship double

Costa, Ulissi to lead the challenge at Vuelta al Pais Vasco

UAE Team Emirates’ Yousuf Mirza sealed a UAE National Championship double after the Emirati finished first in the Time Trial event on Saturday afternoon, adding to his recordbreaking Road Race victory last weekend.

The win — his third consecutive in the UAE National Championship Time Trial — adds to what is becoming a remarkable season for the rider, having won the continental title in the points race at the Asian Track Cycling Championships in Malaysia, as well as the Asian Road Cycling Championship and the Omnium Track Cycling silver medal earlier this year.

Commenting on the win, Mirza, who managed to finish 17 seconds ahead of his nearest opponent, said: “I’m very happy and so satisfied to achieve this result. It’s great to confirm my place on top of the leader board in the time trial. I would like to thank my team; I always receive huge support from the management, from my teammates and from the staff. I want to continue to achieve good results and perform at a high level this season, in the Year of Zayed.”

The Emirati will next turn out for UAE Team Emirates at the Tour of California in May.

Meanwhile, Rui Costa and Diego Ulissi will lead UAE Team Emirates in the upcoming Vuelta al Pais Vasco as the team step up their preparations ahead of the upcoming Ardennes Classics.

Costa was forced to withdraw from Paris- Nice after a crash, but will return to competition after spending time training on the roads of Madeira, while Ulissi will be hoping to test his fitness as he prepares for a strong performance in the Ardennes classics. The riders will be joined by Jan Polanc, Matteo Bono, Anass Ait El Abdia, Manuele Mori and Alexandr Riabushenko.