The podium winners of the men’s event pose with the officials.
Fadhel Al Khater retained the National Time Trial Championship title, which he has made his own over the four editions which the event has been run.
Al Khater (Rasen Adventure Shop) has repeatedly proven himself Qatar’s strongest time trialist and has been the only representative at a World Championships in the 8 years since they came to Doha in 2016.
Time trialling is an all-out speed test. A winning time of 36 minutes 23 seconds at an average speed of 46 kph over the 28 kilometer course put Al Khater almost a minute clear of nearest rival, Ahmed Albourdainy (Team Doha cycling). Abdullah Al Jaaidi, also from Team Doha Cycling, took third place.
The event showed marked uptick in interest in competitive cycling from the nation’s women. The seven strong women’s field was the largest ever at a national championship. Noor Al-Jaber (Vélo Mafia) was first to occupy the leader’s ‘hot seat’ and remained there throughout the evening as Tala Abujbara and Sheikha Al Suwaidi (Team Doha Cycling) failed to unseat her.
Qatar Cycling Federation is assisting the development of riders with a view to having women compete at the GCC Games in Kuwait in May.
In the Open Race, Jonathan Parker (Team Botrill C-bear) and Pia Sundstedt (Rasen Adventure Shop) have been as dominant in the discipline as Fadhel Al Khater. Each retained their title for another year.
