Sheikh Sultan Bin Mohammed Bin Sultan, Sheikh Sultan Bin Ahmed and other top dignitaries pose for a photo during the event.

Gulf Today, Staff Reporter

Sheikh Sultan Bin Mohammed Bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Crown Prince and Deputy Ruler of Sharjah, and Sheikh Sultan Bin Ahmed Al Qasimi, Deputy Ruler of Sharjah, reviewed preparations for the Sharjah International Cycling Tour, which will be held from Jan.28 to Feb.1.

Sharjah Crown Prince and Sheikh Sultan Bin Ahmed were briefed on the five stages of the circumambulation, which totaled 438.8 kilometers spread across the Emirate of Sharjah's cities and regions.

The race will begin with the Al Mamzar stage, a run of 8.8 kilometres. Stage two, University City, covers a distance of 96 kilometres. Third stage: Al Suhub Rest Area (108km). The road is perfectly flat and wide, with wide radius turns.

The fourth stage is 123 kilometres and starts in Al Badayer Oasis, and the fifth and final stage is Al Rafisah Dam. Its beginning and finale follow a distance of 103 kilometres.

Sheikh Sultan Bin Mohammed Bin Sultan inspects the trophy.

A total of 144 riders, representing 24 teams from 16 countries, will participate in the tour. Riders representing Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Oman, Egypt, Syria, Morocco, and Algeria will take part in the Sharjah International Cycling Tour.

Teams including Bahrain Cycling Academy, Terengganu Cycling, Tashkent Cycling, Dukla Banska Bystrica from Slovakia and Salcano Sakarya BB Team from Turkey will also be in the fray.

Cyclists from Shabab Al Ahli Youth Club Dubai, Al Nasr, Dubai Police, Al Shafar Jumeirah Cycling team and Trek M7 will fly the UAE flag at the tour.

A local tour for youth under 16, 17 and 18 years old will be organised for singles and teams, with a total distance of 238 km distributed over four stages, as well as a special race for the disabled that precedes the start of the first stage of the tour on Jan.28.

Sheikh Sultan Bin Mohammed signs a shirt being made for the world event.

36 cyclists representing six teams, including Sharjah, Shabab Al Ahli, Al Nasr, Abu Dhabi Cycling, Khorfakkan, and Al Hamriya, will compete in the local tour.

The Crown Prince of Sharjah was briefed on the shirts of excellence assigned to the winners of the best time who will complete the stage distance, the first to climb the heights, the owner of the best points for the average speed, the first place holder for youth under 23 years, and the Emirati cyclist with the best time in crossing the stage distance.

Sheikh Sultan Bin Mohammed Bin Sultan being briefed during his visit to the venue.

The Sharjah International Cycling Tour is held annually with great success. The first edition of the Sharjah International Cycling Tour was held in 2012, but due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it has been stopped for the past three years.

The last edition of the cycling tour was held in 2018 with four stages for a distance of 378 km, which witnessed the participation of 114 cyclists representing 19 teams from 28 countries.

The meeting was attended by Rashid Ahmed Bin Al Sheikh, head of the Emiri Court; Abdullah Ali Al Mahyan, head of the Sharjah Health Authority; Khalid Jassim Al Midfa, head of the Commerce and Tourism Development Authority; Issa Hilal Al Hazami, Chairman of the Sharjah Sports Council; Abdul Malik Muhammad Jani, Vice Chairman of the Sharjah Sports Council and Chairman of the Organising Committee of the tour; and Yasser Omar Al Doukhi, director of the Sharjah Sharjah International Cycling Tour.