Qatar Cycling Federation (QCF) President Sheikh Khalid bin Al Thani and Secretary General Magid Al Naimi ... the force behind new plans.
BY RIZWAN REHMAT
DOHA: Qatari riders will be targeting victory in the 2012 GCC Cycling Championship to be staged across the Gulf region later this year, national team coach Branko Filip said yesterday.
Filip said the Qatari riders - after a gruelling three-month summer training camp across Europe - will also be aiming for a medal at the 33rd Asian Cycling Championship to be held in New Delhi in March next year.
A squad of 10 Qatar cyclists spent three months in Slovenia, Austria, Croatia and Germany before returning to Doha early this month.
Just days after the summer training camp, the Qatari riders took part in the Arab Cycling Championships in Morocco where they picked up medals in the team and individual races.
“My goal is that I want a GCC champion from Qatar. We have to be the best nation in the GCC. I want to win this race because our riders are good,” Filip said during an interview yesterday. “We want to be one of the leading Asian nations in cycling,” the Slovenian added.
Excerpts from a detailed chat with the Qatar national coach:
Question: Was it your idea to take the Qatari riders to Europe?
Branko Filip: The thing is it is difficult to train here in Qatar in summer. It is not possible to train or ride a bike here in the months of June and July. And so the best place to train and take part in races during the summer season is Europe. In the future, we are hoping to get a velodrome and that will help us to train right here in the country. Velodrome is one of our bigger goals. To go to Europe for training and racing is not something new. They (the Qatar Cycling Federation) has been doing it for a long time. This year we went to Slovenia because it is cheaper and because the riders get to experience different conditions there.
Question: Did you achieve your goals from the summer training camp?
Filip: Yes, for us it was a basic preparation for the rest of the season. The riders got a lot of miles under their belt. They did a lot of training. Each rider lost 8 to 10 kilos during the course of the summer camp. So, we made a lot of improvements on various fronts. Now we are working on speed and improving the technical side of riding. This will be key at the big events of championships. The age bracket of the riders is 19 to 29 years of age. I have 10 riders with me. So, yes, I have a very young team.
Question: Would you say your young team has the potential to do well?
Filip: We want to be one of the leading Asian nations in cycling. I want to get a medal at Asian Cycling Championships in two years in track and road. Our riders will focus on the track and road. We want to have quality riders. We have to focus on doing this. The next Asian Cycling Championships are in India in March 2013. This is one of the goals we have. In October (next month) we go to Iran for track championship. We will see the performances of our riders. They are currently training at a velodrome because we don’t have one here. We are looking for races on track to get more experience and to get better. In November, we will go to the UAE for a training camp. In December, we have the GCC Tour (around the Gulf countries). And then we focus on the Asian Cycling Championships.
Question: Can you tell us about your long-term plans?
Filip: I have spoken with the President and Secretary General of QCF. It is important that these riders joins some European teams so that they take part in as many races as possible. We need riders with experience. The riders need to know that cycling is a way of life. They have to see what the riders are doing. I want (the riders to go) one step higher than their current standing. We need to get more races to get more experience. This is our weakest point (lack of races). We were in Morocco for the Arab Championship. I think we were the strongest team in road racing and we couldn’t win it because we lacked in experience. Khalil was in second place. He started for the finish 50m before the end whereas he should have taken off at the 100m mark. He was waiting to see the finish line but by then (at the 50-mark) it was too late. It is not that we didn’t do well.
Question: Have you been convey this message to the riders (about doing the right thing)?
Filip: Yes, the message has been conveyed. This is cycling. This is not a sport in which you could improve in one day or at one event. But we are improving. When I started with the Qatari riders, their cornering skills were very bad. Here, we have only flat surface and not a lot of corners. In Slovenia, there was a lot of up and down, right and left. That’s why we went to Europe is we got so much of variety in conditions. There we saw riders from everywhere in the world. So my riders know that they have to be focused. They can achieve good results. InshAllah (God Willing) we will do good results.
Question: It seems the next three or four months will be crucial for your riders.
Filip: Yes. We are not just looking at results. When we went to Slovenia, there were specific goals for our riders. We wanted to finish the race in the first pleton of riders every time. We knew that there were several riders who don’t like to fight for top spot and they go back of the group. Now, I want them to be focused on riding in front of the group for 3 to 4 hours. There are 100 riders in the group and one has to be careful and not crash out. These are the small things they have to learn. I don’t expect them to win every time. But at the GCC Tour event I want them to win because they are doing good. I want them to be first at the GCC race. In future, we want to win the Arab Cycling Championships and then in two years’ time, I want the Qatari riders to win medals at the Asian Cycling Championships. My goal is that I want a GCC champion from Qatar. We have to be the best nation in the GCC. I want to win this race because our riders are good.
Question: How much of time do you need to reach your goal?
Filip: I think we are ready. We just need short races under our belt. I think for the GCC track race, we need a little more training. We cannot improve overnight but we are good. I am happy with the progress or the riders on the road. There’s no problem there. We can race with the UAE riders and the Saudis. It is exciting to be with them. I know we can work on some different things. We can put a system in place.
Question: Do the riders understand what they need to do reach these goals?
Filip: Yes, they do understand. They are much more focused now compared to what the scene was like when I started out coaching them. At the start, when our training time was fixed at 9, they would turn up 9:30. Now all the riders come on time and they are very focused. But several times I have to keep telling them about food, training schedule and about sport life in general. I am teaching them sport life, the importance of thinking as a professional. One has to remain focused all day. Now that we have the 2016 Road Cycling World Championships (in Qatar), I am sure the riders will be even more focused because they understand the sport life better now. I am also happy with the fact that Aspetar has joined hands with QCF. That means the riders get professional help in overcoming injuries.
Question: Before you were introduced to QCF, what kind of feedback did you have about Qatar and cycling?
Filip: When I came here, I knew about Doha Team (that took part in Tour of Qatar races). They told me that we only have one event. I was surprised they had only one event because how can you have young people take interest in the sport if you don’t have a series of cycling events. Children learn about sports when they watch events. But they (QCF) is more focused. We have progressed well. Now we are preparing riders with long training schedules. The support given to me by the President and Secretary General is very good. They know about cycling. They are trying to build a velodrome. They are trying to attract young riders. They are working on women’s team. Maybe they will start in one or two months. All of this will bring cycling to a new level of popularity. If you are doing sport, you will live longer. The Emir is supporting sport at a different level. This is what I saw when I came here. This country likes sports more than others.
Question: How long have you been associated with QCF?
Filip: I was with Qatari riders for three-four months before they went for the Arab Cycling Championships last year. This year I started coaching them in March. Then we went to Europe for a training camp. We went to Slovenia and we are also raced in Austria and Croatia. We took part in six or seven races in Germany also. THE PENINSULA
