Sharjah: The ninth Sharjah International Cycling Tour has begun its first stage, spanning 134.46 kilometers and starting in front of Sharjah Fort and Kalba Fort. Sheikh Salem bin Abdulrahman, Chairman of the Sharjah Ruler’s Office, was present to witness the event.
The launch of the major international event, which will take place over a distance of 503 km in 5 stages and include a special race for individuals with disabilities and a local youth tour, has all the arrangements ready.
The race will continue until Wednesday, January 31st. There are 168 cyclists competing from 21 different countries. The second stage, “Sustainability”, begins on Saturday, January 27, for a distance of 137.66 km, from Bee’ah Group to “Ajmal Makan” in Hamriyah. The third stage, from”Al Heera Beach”, begins on Sunday, January 28, for a distance of 10.12 km, and begins and ends at the Sharjah Museum of Islamic Civilisation.
On the same day, the first stage of the Youth Tour is held, for a distance of 10.12 km. It starts from the same place and ends there as well. Meanwhile, a race for people with disabilities “against the clock” will also be held on the same day.
For the same distance for the categories of wheelchairs “H” and special bicycles “C”, and the fourth stage “East Coast” begins Tuesday, January 30, for a distance of 125.57 km, in front of the University of Kalba and ending at “Shees Park” in Khorfakkan. The fifth and final stage, “Shees Rest House”, begins on Wednesday, January 31 at 11 am, for a distance of 95.08 km, and begins from Shees Park and ends at Sharjah Safari in Al Dhaid.
The launch of the tour was attended by: Sheikh Faisal bin Humaid Al Qasimi, President of The Arab Cycling Federation, Major General Saif Al Zari Al Shamsi, Commander-in-Chief of Sharjah Police, Issa Hilal Al Hazami, Chairman of the Sharjah Sports Council, Mansour Bu Asiba, President of the UAE Cycling Federation, and several officials in the sports sector.