How far would you go to watch some of your favourite sport stars in action?
If the question is posed to Saudi Arabian amateur cyclist Omar al-Inizi, the answer would be 560 kilometres — the rough distance between the Saudi Arabian capital Riyadh and Qatari capital Doha.
Keeping up with the spirit of the UCI Road World Championships Doha 2016, the 27-year-old travelled the route by cycle, mostly alone, with the journey spanning three days.
“I was very happy and pleased when Qatar won hosting rights for the UCI Road World Championships in 2012. Ever since then, I had wanted to watch the world’s best riders from close quarters. A few weeks back, I decided to arrive in Doha in style, by cycling between the two cities.
“Since I was travelling mostly alone, I spaced out my journey in order to avoid being exhausted. I rode during the evenings and early mornings. Once I crossed the Qatar border, friends from Qatar Cyclists, a local riding group, started accompanying me. It was a very memorable experience,” he said.
Omar, who works as a sports trainer, said he was looking forward to the competitions in Doha.
“I am a member of an amateur riding club in Saudi Arabia. This is a great opportunity for me to see the UCI Road World Championships from close quarters. I cannot wait to take part in the Ride of Champions, the mass competitive event for the public,” he added.
Omar spoke about his introduction to the sport.
“I started cycling in 2013. I began by doing 2km circles around my compound and gradually began to increase the duration of my rides. Soon, I was able to go on 70km loops. After about two months, I could easily ride 100kms or more at one go. My career’s high point came last year, when I won the Kingdom Race for amateurs in Riyadh,” he said.
Omar called on his countrymen to come to Qatar to watch the UCI Road World Championships Doha 2016.
“This is a rare opportunity to see top cycling talents in action so close to home. We may not get such an opportunity again. I hope my countrymen will come to Doha to watch the different races. It will be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” he said.
“Personally, I would like to meet and interact with Slovakian Peter Sagan, Briton Chris Froome and German Marcel Kittel. That is my biggest dream in Doha,” he said.
Local group Qatar Cyclists facilitated Omar’s trip to Doha. Dr Abdul Aziz al-Kuwari, who heads the rider’s collective, welcomed the Saudi Arabian to the city.
“We wholeheartedly supported his trip. It is a great advertisement for cycling in the region,” he said.
Dr Abdulaziz and Ali al-Kuwari accompanied Omar for the majority of his ride in Qatar.