MUSCAT: Cycle KOM’s Mohammed al Wahibi kept the leader’s red jersey intact with a second-place finish in the penultimate sixth race of Oman Cycling Association (OCA) League 2023-24 won by Munther al Hasani of Salalah Club.
In the 96 km road race at Wakan on February 2, Munther came top with two hours 36 minutes and 18 seconds ahead of Mohammed (2:36:23) and Said al Rahbi of Oman Royal Army (2:36:28).
Al Wahibi’s second place (+0:05) ahead of Said helped him maintain the overall lead with 465 points with only the last race remaining in the OCA League. Al Rahbi has 440 points while Munther has 365 points. Oman Royal Army rider Husam al Rawahi is fourth with 360 points and Salalah Club’s Mazin al Riyami (358) stays in fifth position.
In the under-23 section, Al Wahibi and Al Hasani are in the top two while Oman Club’s Islam Ayad (325) stays third. Al Etiffaq Club’s Asad al Habsi (103) is fourth and Salalah Club’s Amjad al Toqi (73) is in fifth spot.
In the 40 plus category, Cycle KOM’s Daniel Baldwin (346) remains in front ahead of his team captain Paul Willcox (329) and teammate Gregory Pollard (119).
Bahla Club’s Saud al Mandhari (77) and David Coeshall (21) are in fourth and fifth spots respectively.
SIMPLE PLAN
Cycle KOM captain Willcox said his team is happy to maintain the lead for Mohammed.
“Our goal was simple. Keep Mohammed in GC lead by ensuring he finished ahead of Said. We had a plan to attack with Greg and Hashim and let the break get away with our two guys. This worked all though the group had Mazin (high up the GC) and also three Oman Army riders including Hosam. The break stayed away so we had to pull it back,” the British cyclist told Oman Observer.
“Yousif and Mohammad Lamki pulled us and the peloton on the flat to keep the break gap going, then Dan and I attacked on the rising hill to the finish (20km) which split the peloton and chasing group with us, Mohammed, Said and others caught in the break. Towards the end, Munther and Dan got away before the steep climb. Then a battle on the final hill which Mohammed managed to getter the better of Said again. We came away with highest team points and slightly extended Mohammed’s lead again, also maintaining the three jerseys,” the veteran rider, who claimed the fifth race of Individual Time Trial for a fifth straight year, added.
After six races, Oman Royal Army are on top with 1,230 points followed by Cycle KOM (1,186) and Salalah Club (1,120). Oman Club (686) and Wave Riders (490) complete the top five.
The concluding race of the OCA League 2023-24 will be a road race at Knowledge Oasis on March 8.
OCA LEAGUE RACE 6 RESULTS
(Read as rank, rider, team, time)
1. Munther al Hasani (Salalah Club) 02:36:18
2. Mohammed al Wahibi (Cycle KOM) 02:36:23
3. Said al Rahbi (Oman Royal Army) 02:36:28
4. Daniel Baldwin (Cycle KOM) 02:36:32
5. Husam al Rawahi (Oman Royal Army) 02:37:03
6. Abdulrahman al Yaqoobi (Salalah Club) 02:37:03
7. Paul Willcox (Cycle KOM) 02:37:15
8. Hatim al Booshri (Oman Royal Army) 02:37:24
9. Jan-Jaap Gerards (Wave Riders) 02:37:35
10. Islam Ayad (Oman Club) 02:37:38
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