Doha: The Qatari cycling team concluded their summer camp, which began last July, with the participation of teams of different age groups, and was held in the city (Novo Mesto) in Slovenia.
The camp achieved its goal, as the junior team competed with the European teams with continental and international experience, classified by the International Cycling Union, in addition to participating in some of the most powerful races ever in their sporting career.
The performance and level of Qatari riders and the achievement of long-term goals, which must leave a clear imprint in upcoming competitions such as the 2022 Asian Games, and pave the way to the 2030 Asian Games.
During their camp in July and August, the team, fully supported by the Qatar Cycling Federation (QCF), participated in many races in Slovenia, perhaps the most famous of which is the road bike race approved by the International Cycling Union in Kranj.
Team coach Szymon Wasiak said, “Although we came to the camp mainly with the aim of training, we also sought to compete and participate in many races.” Also during their stay in Europe, the Qatari team travelled to Vienna to participate in the Austrian Cup on the road, where Bilal Al Saadi presented a strong performance over a distance of 172 kilometers and ranked 38th, one minute and 48 seconds behind the race winner Manuel Bosch of Felbermayr Simplon Wheels team.
Wasiak added that the rest of the team members, Marwan Al Jalham, Bilal Al Saadi, Abdullah Afif, Nayef Al Musallam and Ahmed Al Bardini, will race in Oman in mid-September, pointing out that this intensive schedule is the cornerstone of the team. These efforts compensate for the time the team was unable to participate in any competitions during the pandemic.
Secretary-General of QCF, Thani Al Zaraa, explained the federations plan, saying: “As a national federation, we must encourage such training programmes. The team is thirsty to participate in international championships as the riders come into contact with professional competitors from all over the world. It will give them the required experience, which will inevitably lead them to raise the flag of Qatar high in the end.”
