Al Rushaidi elected to world cycling body panel

Anuroop Athiparambath

MUSCAT, SEPT 27

Oman’s veteran sports administrator Saif bin Subaa al Rushaidi has been elected as a member of Cycliste Internationale (UCI) Management Committee for the 2025–2029 term, representing Asia.

Prominent French cycling figure David Lappartient was reelected for a third term as the UCI President. The elections were held on the sidelines of the 194th UCI Congress in Kigali, Rwanda, coinciding with the UCI Road World Championships.

Saif al Rushaidi, who is the current chairman of the Oman Cycling Association (OCA) and Vice-Chairman of the Asian Cycling Confederation, was behind the Sultanate of Oman’s big leap in hosting major cycling events like Tour of Oman and Tour of Salalah.

The OCA chief affirmed that his election to the top panel is a source of pride and a significant milestone for Oman.

Commenting on his election, Al Rushaidi expressed pride in this achievement, describing it as a historic milestone for Oman, the Arab world and Asia. “Winning this position at the UCI is a source of pride and an important achievement that demonstrates the ability of Arab sports administrators to contribute meaningfully to international sport,” he said.

“Reaching this prestigious position within the UCI is the result of many years of hard work. I will devote all my experience and expertise to serving cycling in Oman, the Arab world, and across the continent,” Al Rushaidi added.

David Lappartient was re-elected as UCI President at the head of a renewed Management Committee. The 194th Congress of the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) – an Elective Congress – took place in Kigali, Rwanda, during the first UCI Road World Championships organised on the African continent. The UCI Congress brought together representatives of 117 UCI-member National Federations from five continents.

President of the International Federation since the UCI Congress in Bergen, Norway, held in September 2017, and re-elected in Leuven, Belgium, in September 2021, David Lappartient was re-elected for a third four-year term at the head of the institution. The only candidate for the presidency, he was re-elected by acclamation.

Al Rushaidi secured a seat, receiving 30 out of 40 votes, surpassing his sole competitor, the UAE’s Mansour Juma Nasser.

Four Vice-Presidents were elected: Enrico Della Casa (Italy), Amarjit Singh Gill Darshan Singh (Malaysia), Katerina Nash (Czech Republic), and José Manuel Pelaez (Cuba). New members from across the continents also joined the committee. In recognition of his long-standing service to cycling, Dr Mohamed Wagih Azzam was awarded the title of Honorary Vice-President.

At the close of the 194th UCI Congress, the federation awarded the UCI Merit to five prominent figures who contributed to the development of cycling regionally and globally: Jorge Blas Díaz García (DOM), Daniela Isetti (Italy), Raja Sapta Okthohari (Indonesia), Sandra Kinyomvyi (Burundi), and Sir Mark Cavendish (Great Britain) – one of the most renowned sprinters in history, with 165 career victories, world and Olympic titles, and a record 35 stage wins in the Tour de France.