Qatari riders during a training session near Losail Circuit yesterday.
DOHA: Australian cyclist Chloe Hosking yesterday spent half an hour with Qatar’s new women’s squad and quickly declared that she was ‘impressed.’
Hosking yesterday joined more than 20 female riders along with her Hitec Products team-mates around Losail Circuit to gauge the riding skills of the Qatari teenagers.
“Coming out and seeing how women are progressing after just three months of riding, I am so impressed,” Hosking said after exchanging notes with the young Qatari riders. “It is such a great initiative that Qatar has come up with, especially to promote cycling in the region as a whole. For me to be part of this is exciting,” Hosking added.
“I mean they have only been riding for three months. There’s huge progression to come. From where they are - which is just three months - their skill is good.
“Endurance and fitness are two areas you can build on,” the 23-year-old explained. “That’s the easiest part.
“But cycling skill is important and for them riding in a bunch with the world’s best cyclists is amazing. They are really impressive. They were moving around, having their hands on the bars was all good. For me, all that is very impressive,” Hosking said.
The Bendigo-born rider has some tips for the Qatari cyclists.
“Like I said the more they ride, the more cycling fitness they get. Cycling fitness is important. Cycling fit and running around are two different things. All of this comes with time,” Hosking said. “The more they do, the better they get. For now they should get confident getting on a bike, being able to change gears at the right moment.
“All these little things are so important for riders,” she told the Qatari riders.
Hosking said Qatar coach Pia Sundstedt had turned things around for the squad that was unveiled at the start of December.
“Oh yes, they are in the right hands with Pia. I just had a chat with her,” Hosking said.
“She said for two months it was all about getting to know the small things. Now that they are on the bike, she’s doing the right things. They are all excited about the set-up around them,” Hosking added. THE PENINSULA
