The road race was launched from the Al Thakhira Youth Centre to determine the categories and to classify riders.
Al Thakira race is considered as an annual pre-step for the actual start of the league, where the rankings of riders are determined for the next stages of the league.
Al Thakira race attracted the participation of 162 male and female cyclists divided into three categories. In Category A were 32 male and two female riders. The Category B included 44 male and five female riders. As for the last Category (C) the largest number of cyclists was included, with 79 male riders taking part.
The atmosphere of the preliminary stage was strongly competitive, as it classified the riders of each category from the very beginning of the season.
The total distance of the race was 61kms, divided into two consecutive laps launched from Al Thakira youth centre passing through the city and then heading to Ras Laffan main road, going back using the seaside and finally returning from the internal road to reach the finish line.
Majid Shokari was the winner in category A Men with a time of 1:38:47 and an average speed of 37km/ hour. Abdullah al-Jaidi came second with 18 seconds gap, while James Moffatt finished third with a 21 seconds time gap.
In the women’s category A, Julie Melville finished with a time of 1:53:50, the same as her fellow rider Sophie Clark.
In the second category B men, Ali al-Nuaimi won the race in 1:53:50 seconds The second place went to Mohamed Nabhan, while the national team Rider Hamza al-Qasim was third. In the women’s B category, Daniella Spossi topped in a time of 2:12:43, While Boyce Aiofe came in second and Elsa Cameron finished third.
In the category C, Meshaal al-Nuaimi won title place with a time of 1:57. The second place was obtained by cyclist Marwan al-Jalham and Rabea al-Adawy was third place. On 12th October the first phase of the National Cycling Road League sponsored by the Royal Moroccan Airlines (RAM) will be held.
The Qatar National Bank Group (QNB) will be this year’s official sponsor of Qatar Cycling and Triathlon Federation, supporting all its Road, Mountain, and Triathlon Races.
