Tour of Zubarah CEO and Qatar Cycling Federation secretary general Ahmed al-Hemaidi and tournament director Andrej Filip along with other officials address a press conference yesterday. PICTURE: Jayaram


By Yash Mudgal/Doha


More than 100 top-class cyclists representing 14 teams from 20 different nationalities will be in action in the third edition of Tour of Zubarah which will start with a prologue today.
The approximately 400km long event, which was initiated with an eye on providing home-grown talent with more opportunities to race at high profile events, will comprise a prologue (a short individual time trial) and three straight stages (with many intermediate sprints) that will cover most of the country from December 16 to 19.
“The riders will have to tackle the short and individual time trial prologue, which will be held in a very interesting and technical course at Aspire Zone. The prologue will give us a first look on how the riders are prepared for the race,” tournament director Andrej Filip said, while addressing a press conference yesterday.
The 3.3km loop will encircle a big portion of the Aspire Zone and produce amazing images for the prologue, the tour opener, in which riders will start at one-minute intervals. The prologue will start at 2:45pm and conclude at 4:45pm.
UAE’s Mohamed Yousif Mirza, the winner of the inaugural edition of the tour, and the winner of the second edition Azzedine Lagab of Algeria National Team are not taking part this year.
Besides Qatar, teams from Europe, Asia and the Middle East are taking part in the tour which is part of the efforts of the Qatar Cycling Federation (QCF) to promote and appreciate the nation’s heritage as it is dedicated to Al Zubarah, which was promoted to Unesco World Heritage List in 2013.
Qatar has entered two teams — Qatar National Team and Carbon Wheels.
Qatar rider Ahmed Bassam al-Bourdainy, who won the third stage of the Qatar leg of the 14th GCC Men’s Cycling Championship on Saturday, is representing Sharjah Team this year.
“It is a good opportunity for al-Bourdainy to represent a continental team as he will get the proper international exposure required for his growth as a rider,” Filip said.
Italy’s 26-year-old rider Andrea Palini, who finished second in the Jelajah Malaysia tour last week, will be in action with the Skydive Dubai team.
The first stage will start at 12noon from Al Thakir and conclude at Madinat al-Shamal after covering a distance of 129.1km. The second stage will be flagged off at 12.30pm from the Camel Race Track and after covering a distance of 119.8km will conclude at Dukhan.
The third stage will have a 10.30am start at the Simaisma Youth Centre and conclude at Al Zubarah Fort around 3.30pm, covering a distance of 119.8km.
“We are glad and excited for the third edition of the Tour of Zubarah,” Tour of Zubarah CEO and QCF secretary general Ahmed al-Hemaidi said.
Qatar National Team is comprised of Khali Abduljanan, Abdullah Afif, Moosa Said and Sayed Medhat. Mat Wilson, Julien Periard, Jocj Hughson, Glenn Bull, Paul Cowland, Nelson Andre and Scott Cocking will represent Carbon Wheels team.
According to the classification of the International Cycling Union (UCI), the competition is a Class 2.2, which means that participants can get points for their performance both nationally and individually. The total prize-money for the tour is 19,152 euros.