RAS AL KHAIMAH // About 400 cyclists hailing from as far as the capital jumped on their bikes to “cycle for a cause” in the 70km RAKBank ride on Friday.
The cyclists defied a chilly morning start to take in one of two courses, a corporate course and an individual course, with the fun corporate event involving cyclists wearing their work attire for the ride.
More than 40 teams participated in the corporate event that kicked off at 9am on RAK’s Al Marjan Island, with each team consisting of four members covering a total distance of 22.8km, with all proceeds going to a children’s charity through RAK Red Crescent.
The individual event started at 7am and drew the majority of cyclists.
Leukaemia survivor Varun Shekar took part with his colleagues to prove a point to himself.
“I am here to prove to myself that I can still play sports after a long journey of treatment,” said the 25-year-old engineer at Mabani Steel, based in RAK. His wife, Varsha, was on the sidelines cheering as he rode with his team-mates.
The team Wild Life won the corporate race and team member Anne-Lise Chaber had nothing but praise for her colleagues.
“My team members are more fit than me, they helped me throughout the race,” she said ahead of her team receiving the winner’s trophy.
Ridwan Heriyadi, a manager at the Banyan Tree hotel in RAK, liked the way the cycle brought colleagues together.
“It’s a good team effort. We try as much as possible to build team spirit and create a bond between each other.”
Nichola Mcdonald won the women’s 70km individual race, having came with her friends at CycleSafeDubai. “I finished in one hour and 54 minutes and the ride was fantastic,” the South African who has been cycling in Dubai for five years said.
Fellow South African Desmond Myburgh finished first in the men’s category, in one hour and 45 minutes. “This is the first time I have cycled in RAK – the track was good and the wind was perfect,” he said.
He travelled from Dubai at 3am to take part. “We started the race as a group of 10 cyclists and, at the end, we became three to finish first of the group,” added the 25-year-old.
Andy Coleman drove up from Abu Dhabi to cycle with his friend, professor Daniel Baltrusaitis. “It’s the first time I have cycled in the countryside. I don’t train professionally but I ride at Yas Island’s circuit.”
The British consultant and his friend intended to enjoy a day out in RAK before heading back to the capital.
On the sidelines of the event, people cheered for their family members and friends that are cycling.
Lara Alrawi was sitting near the finish line with her 5-year-old daughter, also Lara, waiting for her husband Ahmad to finish the race.
“My husband heard about this event and registered – he doesn’t even have a bike,” she said, adding that her husband decided that cycling was the sport for him after he got injured playing football.
“After registration, we started visiting shops to find a bike for him – he gets so happy when he is playing sports,” she said.
The RAKBank ride was introduced to encourage the growth of cycling in the UAE. It aims to promote a healthy lifestyle and encourage team spirit, as well as highlighting RAK as a cycling destination.
The chief executive of RAKBank, Peter England, who wore a suit and tie while cycling, said: “We had a great time. We had more than 140 people participating in the corporate event.
“It is harder to cycle with this formal attire – there is a lot of wind resistance.”
tzriqat@thenational.ae
