Al Wathba Cycle Race Series provides an opportunity for ‘everyone to win’

Rob Leemans celebrates after crossing the line in the penultimate leg of the Al Wathba Cycle Race Series. Mona Al Marzooqi / The National

ABU DHABI // Belgian rider Rob Leemans was the convincing winner of the penultimate leg of the six-round Al Wathba Cycle Race Series, and then paid tribute to the format of the competition as providing an opportunity for “everyone to win”.

Leemans, 22, arrived last week on the invite of Yas Racing Club to take part in his first competition in the Emirates, and he will remain the man to beat in the final leg of the race series on January 25.

“We had quite a few guys in the team and it is quite easy to run a tactical race. At the end I did the last lap on my own,” Leemans said. “Yas gave me a big opportunity to come down here to train and race until the end of January.

“The plan is to participate in the team time trial and perhaps compete in Liwa, and then the final leg of the Al Wathba series before I return to Belgium.”

The races at the Al Wathba Cycle track in Abu Dhabi consist of four categories for men and women, Emiratis, and under 18s.

The event takes the form of the Australian Pursuit Series, a handicap race in which five groups of riders set off at four-minute intervals with the intention of chasing down the group in front and all groups coming together at the finish.

Leemens and the strongest group started 16 minutes behind the first group in the three-lap race on Monday night, covering a distance of 48 kilometres.

“This is the first time for me in this type of race,” he said. “I like this concept and idea because this format provides everyone an opportunity to win.

“On one occasion I came to the front and asked someone if there was anybody still in front. He said no, and then I raced at my own pace.”

With the event split into different levels of performance it allows members of the public to challenge themselves.

Mohammed Al Qubaisi, the deputy director of human resources at Adnoc, was one of them. “Cycling has given me a new appetite to keep myself in good shape,” he said.

“We want to encourage our staff to participate in this race series. We have eight at the moment but I’m sure this number will grow in the coming months.

“We have purchased cycles and the employees and their families are free to use them.”

“The Al Wathba race series is an excellent idea. It is not about just winning but challenging one’s own performances and timing. If you can win, it’s even better, though.”

Helen Martin, an estate agent at Crompton Partners, was the winner of the women’s race.

“I got lucky today because the two riders better than me were out of the race, one didn’t turn up for this race and the other was involved in a crash. That left me as the winner for the first time in four races,” she said.

Nekhari Al Khaili, who travelled from Al Ain, was the winner in the category for the Emiratis.

Al Khaili had taken up cycling less than a year ago and said he is delighted with his progress.

“It is a new sport and for me it’s mostly to promote a healthy lifestyle among my friends and colleagues,” said the Emirati, who works at Tawazun Economic Council.

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