Qatari rider Abdullah al-Jaaidi emerged winner in the category ‘A’ of the Al Ghuwariyah Road Race organised by the Qatar Cycling Federation.
Al-Jaaidi won the five-lap, 92km race in 2:21;18.9, ahead of Great Britain’s Chris Murrin and Morocco’s Mouhcine Rhaili.
The first five riders in the competition all finished with the same time. It was al-Jaaidi’s third road podium finish of the season and he is now a strong favourite for the National Championships title.
Races were held in four categories – A, B, C and D – with riders categorised based on their average speed set earlier this season at the Al Ghuwayriyah course.
The course is a favourite among racers for its rural setting and interesting triangular multi-lap course which offers sections of just five to six kilometres apiece of headwind, cross-wind and tail wind, each of which contribute to the tactics of bunch racing.
The bikers with an average speed of 39-41kph took part in the A race, riders with speeds between 36 and 38km were in the category B and the slower riders competed in C - 31 to 33km and D categories - 31 to 33km.
Qatar’s Khalid al-Yafei emerged victorious in the four-lap 74km event, finishing in 2:01:3.1sec. Spain’s Rafael Tamarit finished second. Jose Figueiredo of Portugal’s was was third with a timing of 2:01:5.1.
Iran’s Mohsen Jafar registered win in the category C - the 55.5km race, spread over three laps, in 1:31:45.0. Qatar’s Khalifa al-Khulaifi was 19 seconds behind, coming home in 1:32:03.5, while the Philippine’s Phil Angelo Ganitano was third.
Filipino riders claimed top two positions in the category D Jonnie Christian Engracia, who clocked 1:32:24.0, proved to be faster than compatriot Julius Borromeo, who clocked 1:38:26.1 and Malaysia’s Nik Mohd Najib (1:32:27.2).
RESULTS
MEN’S A
1 Abdullah al-Jaaidi (Team Doha Cycling) QAT
2 Chris Murrin (Team Al Jassra) (GBR)
3 Mouhcine Rhaili (Team Doha Cycling) (MAR)
WOMEN’S A
1 Elizabeth Dunne (Team Al Jassra) (IRL)
2 Sophie Clarke (Rasen Adventure Shop) (GBR)
MEN’S B
1 Khalid Alyafei (Team Doha Cycling) (QAT)
2 Rafael Tamarit (Los Gauchos) (ESP)
3 Jose Figueiredo (Team Doha Cycling) (POR)
MEN’S C
1 Mohsen Jafar (Team Doha Cycling) (IRI)
2 Khalifa al-Khulaifi (Team Doha Cycling) (QAT)
3 Phil Angelo Ganitano (Bike to Work Qatar) (PHI)
Women’S B
1 Daniela Sposi Rasen Adventure Shop (ITA)
2 Isobel Bushell Team Doha Cycling (GBR)
3 Mamiya Ajero BPMQ (PHI)
Novice
1 Jonnie Christian Engracia (BPMQ) (PHI)
2 Julius Borromeo (Team Doha Cycling) (PHI)
3 Nik Mohd Najib (Team Farhana) (MAS).
The winners of the Al Ghuwariyah Road Race.
