MUSCAT: Oman’s national cycling teams intensified their preparations through a series of domestic and overseas training camps ahead of several major regional and international competitions, including participation at the prestigious UCI Road World Championships in Montreal, Canada.
The global championship is scheduled to take place from September 20 to 27 and is expected to attract many of the world’s top cyclists competing across different categories and disciplines. The Omani cyclists, under the supervision of national head coach Marwan al Zinaqi, are aiming to deliver strong performances during the championship while continuing to raise the Sultanate of Oman’s profile on the international cycling stage.
The national Under-23 cycling team is set to begin an intensive external training camp in China starting next week, with the programme running from June 1 until June 30. The month-long camp is expected to play a major role in improving the riders’ physical and technical readiness ahead of the upcoming competitions. The camp in China will may also include participation in several international races, providing valuable exposure and competitive experience for the Omani riders against strong Asian and international cyclists.
Following the China preparations, the Under-23 squad will head to France where they are scheduled to participate in a number of international races from August 1 to 25 as part of the final preparation phase before the world championship. The national cyclists will then return to Oman to compete in two important local events, beginning with the Dhofar Classic race on September 5 followed by the Tour of Salalah, which will run from September 6 to 9.
JAPAN CAMP
Meanwhile, the senior national cycling squad will also undergo two internal camps in Sohar during June. The first phase of preparations will be held from June 3 to 6, while the second camp is scheduled from June 10 to 13. At the junior level, Oman’s young cyclists will participate in an overseas training camp in Japan from June 30 until July 14 as part of the Oman Cycling Associations’ (OCA) long-term strategy to develop emerging talents and prepare future generations for international competitions.
The technical staff will target from the coming various camps and competitive races to help the cyclists improve endurance levels, tactical awareness and racing experience ahead of the major international calendar later this year.
The upcoming UCI Road World Championships will mark the second time the event is hosted in Montreal and the third time overall in Canada. The Canadian city previously staged the championship in 1974, which was historically the first edition of the UCI Road World Championships to be organised outside Europe. Canada also hosted the event in Hamilton in 2003, while the 2026 edition will coincide with celebrations marking the 50th anniversary of the 1976 Summer Olympics. Since 2010, Montreal has hosted the prestigious Grand Prix Cycliste de Montréal, one of the major events on the UCI World Tour calendar featuring many of the world’s leading professional cyclists. The championship routes for the 2026 edition are expected to incorporate sections inspired by the famous Grand Prix Cycliste de Montreal course, providing a technically challenging and competitive environment for all participating riders.
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