Cyclists in action during the 2012 GCC Cycling Championship held near Losail International Circuit, yesterday. CENTRE: A Qatari cyclist holds Qatar’s national flag. RIGHT: Qatar Cycling Federation President Sheikh Khalid bin Ali Al Thani watches the race.
DOHA: Qatari cyclist Musa Khalfan yesterday won stage four of the 2012 GCC Cycling Championship that was held in Qatar.
Khalfan finished the stage held around the Losail International Circuit ahead of UAE rider Yusuf Mirza and Bahraini rider Taha Sayed.
It capped an excellent week for the Qatari cyclist, who had also won the 2012 GCC Cycling Championship almost a week ago in Oman.
After four stages, Mirza has the yellow jersey while Ahmed Mansoori, also of UAE, is the owner of the green jersey.
Bahrain’s Mohammed Salman has the white jersey.
Sheikh Khalid bin Ali Al Thani, President of the Qatar Cycling Federation (QCF),and Magid Al Naimi, Secretary General, QCF, were also present during yesterday’s stage.
The region’s top riders are competing in the 2012 GCC Cycling Championship.
Today, the riders will start from Al Shaniya and stop at Abu Samra for the fifth stage of the championship, which is an annual race that is held around the region.
The GCC Cycling Championship is just one of many events that the Qatar cycling team have taken part in.
A squad of 10 took part in a three-month summer training camp across Europe which included Slovenia, Austria, Croatia and Germany.
The summer training camp proved to be good practice for the Qatari cyclists, who picked up medals in the team and individual races at the Arab Cycling Championship in Morocco.
National team coach, Branko Filip will take his team to the 33rd Asian Cycling Championship which will be held in New Delhi in March next year.
Earlier this year, the International Cycling Union, the governing body for cycling, awarded Qatar the 2016 World Road Cycling Championship. It will be the first time, the prestigious cycling event will be held in the Middle East.
Stage Four Results:
1)Musa Khalfan (Qatar).
2)Yusuf Mirza (UAE).
3) Taha Sayed (Bahrain). Jersey holders: Yellow jersey: Yusuf Mirza (UAE). Green jersey: Ahmed Mansoori (UAE). White jersey: Mohammed Salman (Bahrain).
THE PENINSULA
