Van Hattum, Baloushi and Hassani steal the limelight
dubai — Yvonne Van Hattum (Open Expatriate Female), Rashid Al Baloushi (Social Emirati Male), Ali Al Hassani (Open Emirati Male) and Ryan Christian (Open Expatriate Male) stole the show at the UAE Road Cycling Championship’s Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority Stage Three’s 63-kilometer Jebel Jais climb, including a twokilometre neutralized-zone (managed by Ras Al Khaimah Police).
Sanctioned by the UAE Cycling Federation, the championship is touted as ‘UAE’s Nationals’, crowning annual amateur Emirati Male and Expatriate Male and Female cyclists, with this season’s edition raced over four stages: two climbing stages, one individual time trial and one flat stage.
Stage Three saw cyclists start from Saqr Park (Ras Al Khaimah) cycling 38-kilometers to reach the Supplied photo bottom of Jebel Jais, to then challenge this formidable mountain through a 25-kilometre climb, on police-managed, rolling road closures (up the mountain). To set a thrilling finish, and for the first time, cyclists continued their assault up to the new summit and cross the finish line located under the well-known ‘Jebel Jais Flight: World’s Longest Zipline’ – which offers stunning, sweeping views of the rugged mountain terrain.
Leaders of the championship after Stage Three, and with one stage remaining, are Roisin Thomas (Expatriate Female), Yaser Al Balooshi (Social Emirati Male), Ali Al Hassani (Emirati Clubs Male) and Sam Stollery (Expatriate Male). The Championship’s fourth, and deciding stage will be raced on December 7 at Dubai Sports City’s 103.8-kilometer road race.
Sheikh Saqr Bin Saud Al Qassimi was the chief guest and gave away the prizes. UAE Cycling Federation’s secretary general Abdulnasser Al Shamsi and UAE Cycling Federation board member Nayef Jakka were also present.