MUSCAT: United Arab Emirates (UAE) cyclists made a clean sweep of the top three podium places in the opening stage of the second edition of Tour of Salalah on Sunday.
Saif al Kaabi claimed the opening honours in Salalah by finishing in 2 hours 52 minutes and 11 seconds in the 116 km-long Stage 1 run from the picturesque Darbat Waterfall to Ayn Ishat.
Teammate Jaber al Mansoori (same time) finished a close second and Khalid Mayouf (+1:01) completed the podium sweep for the UAE.
Abdullah al Hammadi continued the UAE domination in the stage by finishing fourth (+1:01).
Shihab al Qamshouai kept the Sultanate of Oman in the top five by finishing fifth in 02:54:12.
Earlier, more than 100 cyclists pedalled to the finish point when the Tour of Salalah 2022 was flagged off at Darbat Waterfall.
The four-stage cycling race which offers a total prize money of RO 7,730 is being organised by the Oman Cycling Association and supported by Dhofar Municipality, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth and Ministry of Heritage and Tourism.
The Tour of Salalah is witnessing competition among 11 teams – 7 teams from Oman and national teams from Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Thailand.
The Oman teams in the competition include Royal Army of Oman, Salalah Club, Oman Club, Bahla Club, Al Asimah, Cycle.kom and Gulf Cycles.
CYCLE.KOM SECOND
UAE national team led the team category with an overall timing of 08:37:34. Oman’s Cycle.kom – NRO are second with 08:51:25 and the Saudi Arabian national team are third (08:51:44). Omani teams Salalah Club (08:51:46) are fourth and Oman Royal Army (08:54:09) finished fifth after the Stage 1 race.
In the under-23 category, UAE’s Abdullah al Hammadi (02:53:12) is topping the list. Oman’s Faisal al Maamari (02:55:55) is second and Great Britain’s Bradley Perkins (02:56:31) is third.
Oman’s Mohammed al Wahibi (fourth) and Said al Rahbi completed the top five list.
On Monday, the 101 km-Stage 2 will be held between Al Baleed Archaeological Park and Hajeef.
Oman Cycling Association Chairman Saif bin Sebaa al Rashidi gave away the jerseys and awards to the stage winners in the concluding ceremony.
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