The podium winners at the fifth stage of the Royal Air Maroc Cycling League at Al Ruwais.
Doha: The fifth stage of the Royal Air Maroc Cycling League was held last Friday in Al Ruwais.
Starting from Al Shamal Sports Club, more than 100 participants had to tackle with strong north winds which made the flat race seem like it’s high mountain area. The race lap of 35 km went from Al Ruwais to Al Ghariya and back.
The strongest group of Men A category had three laps, the wind prevented any solo effort, the race was decided in a sprint of small group where Fergal McCool (Velostar) booked in his first victory of the season in front of Fred Watson and Szymon Wasiak.
In Men’s B category (two laps) we also saw a new winner – Bilal Al Saadi (national Junior team) who managed to hang on to the late attack and won by margin of 12 seconds in front of Christian Haneke (Velostar) and Andrew Tangonan (Pinoy Roadies) who is leading in RAM league scoring.
Men C’s category (two laps) was dominated by Qatar national team riders, with Hamza Al Kassem winning the race in front of teammate Zaid Hamza and Saeed Al Kuwari (Qatar Cyclists). Zaid Hamza also leads in RAM league for this category.
Women’s race A had only two representatives, who started together with Men B. Julie Melville (ABPR) managed to outsprint Isora Sosa Caballero (Tri Club Doha). Julie extended her lead in the RAM league.
Ladies B category was won by Katherine Gomez (Tri Club Doha) with Dorothy Weymouth (AMPR) and Shawna Garrett (Tri Club Doha) taking second and third place respectively. With half of the races in the league behind us and the latest victory by Gomez, she already has an extensive lead in the competition.
The race and the league is organized by Qatar Cycling Federation with cooperation of Qatar Chain reaction and sponsored by Royal Air Maroc, Rayyan natural water and Go Sport.
Next event will happen after two weeks on February 16 on roads of Al Ghuwaiyriyah.
