Crowning the Mleiha National Park Cycling Champions

Held in a dynamic and competitive atmosphere, the challenge brought together participants of different nationalities and age groups, showcasing the growing popularity of cycling in the UAE.

Distinguished attendees

The event was graced by several prominent figures, including His Excellency Dr Yasser Omar Al Dokhi, President of the Arab Cycling Federation; His Excellency Mansour Bu Osaiba, President of the UAE Cycling Federation; and His Excellency Dr Ashraf Imam, Secretary-General of the Arab Cycling Federation and President of the Sudanese Cycling Federation. Other notable attendees included His Excellency Mohammed Sultan Al Khasouni, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Mleiha Cultural and Sports Club; Omar Jassim Al Ali, Director of Mleiha and Strategic Projects at Mleiha National Park; Bakhit Saeed Al Qurs, Director of the Sports and Community Events Department; Yousef Al Hosani, Head of the Sports Events Planning and Implementation Division; and Sultan Al Obaidli, Executive Director of Sports and Community Events.

Race results by category

In the MTB category for male citizens, Majid Al Balushi secured first place, followed by Talal Al Balushi in second, and Adel Jalal in third. In the female citizens’ MTB category, Amal Al Kaabi claimed first place, Maryam Fahad came second, and Laila Al Balushi placed third. In the open male MTB category, Alvaro Galindo finished first, Romain Barbier took second, and Majid Al Balushi earned third place. For the open female category, Vicky Al Shaw finished first, Cristina Zabolotko came second, and Rachel Delaunay secured third place.

In the Fat Bike category, Yaqoub Al Serkal won first place among male citizens. In the open male category, Bill Ainley came in first, followed by Dominador Primero in second and Simon Flynn in third. The women’s race was won by Merry Ainley.

In the E-Bike category for male citizens, Tariq Mohammed took first place, with Ahmed Al Suwaidi in second and Sultan Al Qasimi in third. Among the general public, John Lester claimed first place, followed by Jeman Antonio and Glenn Toomey in second and third place respectively. In the women’s category, Erica Braiko finished first, while Lirin Marich came in second.

Promoting sports tourism and heritage

Bakhit Saeed Al Qurs expressed his happiness with the success of the event, especially as it coincided with Al Faya’s recognition as a UNESCO World Heritage site for 2025. He emphasised the Council’s commitment to organizing such events annually to cater to cycling enthusiasts and promote the concept of sports tourism. He extended his appreciation to all contributing and supporting entities for their essential roles in the event’s success and praised the Mleiha National Park management for their sincere efforts that made the event possible and memorable.