The podium winners at the Round 8 of the Royal Air Maroc League. Farhan Farizi of Giant RBS produced a sublime round of riding to top the Men's A class. Julien Periard of Carbon Wheels Racing and Fred Watson of Rasen Velostar, finished second and third re
Farhan Farizi (Giant RBS) produced a sublime round of riding to top the Men's A class in round 8 of the hugely popular Royal Air Maroc League over the weekend.
Farizi clocked an impressive time of 2:06.10 to win the round ahead of Julien Periard (Carbon Wheels Racing) and Fred Watson (Rasen Velostar) who finished two seconds adrift of Farizi.
Farizi's average speed was 39km/h in a race that had 17 starters.
Glenn Bull (Giant RBS) and Brendan Maloney (Qatar Chain Reaction) completed the top cyclists.
In the Women's A class, Isora Sosa Caballero (Carbon Wheels Racing) topped the race in a time of 2:15.25, clocking a speed of 29.9km/h.
Julie Melville (Carbon Wheels Racing) and Perrine Fages completed the top three riders.
Meanwhile Carmel Lord (Carbon Wheels Racing) topped the Womens' B class, finished the race ahead of Gerladine Diaz (Giant RBS) and Bettina Zabat (Pinoy Roadies Qatar).
Carmel's winning time was 1:52.25.
In the Men's B class, Shane Guinan (Rasen Velostar) clinched the race in a time of 2:15.19.
Guinan - who clocked a top speed of 36.4km/h - finished ahead of Andrew Tangonan (Pinoy Roadies Qatar) and Merlin Von Frankenberg.
Nehad Kadry and Jaco Anderson completed the top five riders in Men's B class which featured 21 riders in the race.
In the Men's C class, Ronald Allan Alfonso (Pinoy Roadies Qatar) topped the race in a time of 1:37.24. Alfonos's top speed was 34.5km/h. Ahmad Al Subaey (Losail Team) and Revelito Pasion (SMCC) finished second and third respectively, some six seconds adrift of the time recorded by Alfonso.
Najib Idrus and Christian Husum Frederiksen (Qatar Chain Reaction) completed the top five. A total of 27 riders featured in the race.
Officials representing Qatar Cycling and Triathlon Federation (QCTF) and sponsors Royal Air Maroc were present at the prize distribution ceremony.
The Royal Air Maroc League- supported by Qatar Cyclists (QC) and Qatar Chain Reaction (QCR) - sees races held with a gap of two or three weeks - was launched last year in October.
The men’s competitions are held in three classes whereas the female riders compete in two categories, Andrej Filip, Technical Secretary, QCTF, said.
“This is the first league of its kind for cycling fans in Qatar and so far we've seen exciting battles as riders go to all corners of the country,” Filip said.
“The interest in our league has been overwhelming for us as mostly the races are held on Fridays,” Filip said.
