The UCI Road World Championships Doha 2016 is here and the country is abuzz with excitement. After all, it is not every day that you get to see some of the world’s best men, women and junior cyclists take to Qatar’s roads.
The host nation will field three riders — Abdullah Afif, Jassim al-Jabri and Farhan Farizi — for the prestigious competition.
For 30-year-old Abdullah, taking part in the UCI Road World Championships Doha 2016 is a dream come true. He joined the team at the last minute, following a groin injury to Ahmed Elbourdainy. The rider said he would make the most of the opportunity given to him.
“Since July I had been training with the Qatar national team in Europe. But honestly, my appearance at the UCI Road World Championships Doha 2016 is quite unexpected. Personally, this is a great opportunity for me and I promise everyone to do my best,” said the senior rider.
Abdullah will compete in the Elite Men’s Individual Time Trial on October 12.
Qatar national team coach Tareq Ismaili, himself a former rider, was pragmatic and said that while the Qatari riders are not as experienced as the world’s best riders, they will be aiming to perform well on home soil.
“People should understand that competitions at this level are very tough. Europe has a long and rich history in cycling and it’s very tough to beat riders from that continent. But having said that, Abdullah has been training for some time in Italy, Croatia and Slovenia. I’m sure he’ll fight hard to put up a competitive show,” he said.
Jassim, who is 18 years old and has been a member of the Qatar national team since 2013, will compete in the Junior Road Race (October 14). He promised to learn as much as possible from being part of such a major event.
“It is a great honour to represent Qatar on the world stage just two years after taking up cycling. I know how hard the race will be. I am prepared for it and all I can say is I will give it my best shot. I am also eagerly looking forward to watch, observe, interact and receive tips from riders like Tom Boonen and Mark Cavendish. I really hope to be able to do well in Doha,” he said.
At 17 years of age, Farhan Farizi is the Qatar national team’s youngest member. A late entrant into the sport, he has bloomed in recent times. He spoke confidently about his quest in front of home fans.
“I have been preparing for this moment for the last 12 months. A few weeks back, I took my first stage win during a road race in Slovenia, and it has proved to be a huge morale booster for me. My personal aim in Doha is to finish among the top-50 junior riders,” he said.
“Until a year ago, I had been playing volleyball and competing in triathlon events. But now, my only focus is on cycling. All my friends from school will be at The Pearl-Qatar to cheer me on. I can’t wait for the competition to begin,” he added. Farhan’s event, the Junior Individual Time Trial, will be held on October 11.

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