“This is a different race, the first edition of the race was held last year and was the first one of its kind in Qatar and we are happy to announce the return of the race,” Rasen Sports’ Sheikh Abdullah al-Thani said, while addressing the media.
The riders will have to plan their own strategy, like when they want to a take break and when they want to race. The winner of the race will be the team or rider that completes the most laps, with the first lap after the clock has ticked over 24 hours counting to the result.
For this adventurous, exciting and demanding race, which will start on March 23 at 1pm, the registration process is on. Rasen Sports has been organising cycling race since 2013 in the country with the aim to make the biking a popular sport under the guidance of Sheikh Abdullah, who himself is a biker.
“We have already 100 riders registered with us and hope it will go up to 150, which is the limit for the event. I hope this year’s race will be one of the most memorable events of the season,” he said. This race is part of the Qatar MTB league and has three different segments – Six-hour, 12-hour and the 24-hour race. Apart from this, a kid’s race will also be held just before the award ceremony on March 24.
Talking about the circuit, he said: “The challenge will attract participants to one of Qatar’s most untouched natural wonders. It will be different from all the other races you see, the riders will actually go between the canopies of banana, Mango trees and date palm trees. There will be water puddles and sandy dunes also.”
“We have been managing mountain bike events since 2013. We wanted to add something different to our calendar and that is the 24-hour competition. We want it to be family-oriented. It’s not only a race. There is camping. People will get to experience farmhouse life and connect with desert nature. The venue is a very old farm. It is different from what you normally see in the desert,” he said.
Last year’s winner Mark Murad is also geared up to defend his title and urged the citizens to take part in the race in large numbers. “It was very tough last year, but I enjoyed the challenge and won the title. The inaugural event was well organised and I hope the second edition will be equally successful. All the bikers should take part in the race as it is going to be another fun event,” he said.
The gravel and hard pack course for the cross country race, which is being organised with the support of Qatar Cycling and Triathlon Federation and Qatar Cyclists, is now open for track reading.
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