Sharjah: Jasour – News Desk
Sheikh Salem bin Abdul Rahman Al Qasimi, Head of the Ruler’s Office, witnessed the launch of the 10th Sharjah International Cycling Tour’s first stage, “Excellence and Creativity,” covering a distance of 132.91 kilometers. The event started from the Al Majaz Theater in Sharjah and ended in the Hanging Gardens in the city of Kalba. The kickoff featured performances by the Sharjah Marine Sports Club, after which the Head of the Ruler’s Office signaled the start of the race.
The total race distance is divided into five stages and includes a local youth tour and a special race for individuals with special needs, in addition to professional races. The tour runs until next Tuesday, January 28, with 174 cyclists participating from 23 countries, representing 29 teams and national squads. The participating countries include the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Iraq, Oman, France, Spain, Italy, Belgium, the Netherlands, Greece, Turkey, Portugal, Thailand, China, Japan, Malaysia, the Philippines, Egypt, Algeria, Morocco, Mauritius, and Rwanda.
In the coming days, the stages of the major international event will continue. The second stage, “Central Region,” will take place on Saturday, January 25, covering 127 kilometers from the wheat farm in Mleiha to Al Dhaid University. The third stage, “Science and Culture,” includes an accompanying race for individuals with special needs “against the clock” for wheelchair categories “H” and special bikes “C,” and the youth category. This stage will take place tomorrow, covering 11.16 kilometers, and will start and end at the American University of Sharjah in the University City.
The fourth stage, “Eastern Region,” will be held on Monday, covering 132.32 kilometers from Al Hafiya Lake in Kalba to the Cloud Lounge in Khorfakkan. The fifth and final stage, “Past and Future,” will take place next Tuesday, covering 121.87 kilometers from the Heritage Village in Al Hamriyah to Aljada in Sharjah.
