Skydive Dubai cycling team in 1-2 finish

Team based in the emirate wins top two positions at UAE Cup

Skydive Dubai signed off from the Tour of Sharjah with the top two positions in the “UAE Cup” — the international cycling race to coincide with the 44th UAE National Day celebrations.

Meher Hasnaoui and Soufiane Hadi claimed the top two positions in the 140 kilometre UAE Cup, held along the Al Khan area, leaving the third podium spot to Essad Abelouache from the Moroccan national team.

Hasnaoui broke away from the main peloton after eight laps and then managed to keep his lead for a comfortable finish in a time of 2 hours and 54.44 minutes. His Skydive Dubai teammate Hadi — overall champion in the four-day Tour of Sharjah — finished second with a time of 2:54.56, while Essaid followed in third.

Serbian Nebojsa Jovanovic of the Kuwait Cycling Project was placed fourth, while Skydive Dubai’s Andrea Palini came in fifth.

“This win is the icing on the cake for the team. It has been a tough five days, but I am pleased with the progress we have made as a team,” Ricardo Martins, Skydive Dubai Team Manager, told Gulf News. “Last year we won the overall title in the Tour of Sharjah, but this year we have improved as a team and this is clear from the way our riders won all four stages.”

Nasser Al Fardan, General Secretary of the Sharjah Sports Council, was joined by Saeed Mussabah Al Ka’abi, head of the Sharjah Educaitonal Zone, at the prize presentation at the end of the competition. The formal awards ceremony for the Tour of Sharjah and the UAE Cup was scheduled to be held at the Al Mamzar area late yesterday.

Skydive Dubai riders occupied the top four places in the general classification.

Soufiane Hadi took the overall title followed by his Italian teammate Palini and veteran Spanish rider Francisco Mancebo and Rafaa Chtioiu.