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www.thepeninsulaqatar.com PAGE | 21 PAGE | 23 RossiRos takes pole Al Arabi edge in Japan, Al Kharaitiyat LLorenzoo third for key victory SUNDAY 16 OCTOBER 2016 • 15 MOHARRAM 1438 thepeninsulaqatar @peninsulaqatar @peninsula_qatar UCI chief praises Qatar for developing cycling culture By Rizwan Rehmat cycling out here. There’s a lot of premature to make the final call and from those watching the race “We have a contingency plan The Peninsula interest in supporting, funding on Qatar’s role as hosts of the UCI action from the sidelines. in place but it is just that: a contin- and sponsoring cycling by way of World Road Championships. “Some riders have said some gency plan,” Cookson said. running events here or sponsor- With today being the last day positive things as well; we should “As at this moment in time, it ing and running teams. That’s a of the eight-day championship, it bear that in mind,” Cookson said doesn’t look like it will be needed. DOHA: UCI President Brian good thing, I think,” Cookson told is the first time that the prestigious when asked about reaction from The full distance will be raced,” Cookson yesterday said cycling the media. event has stopped by at a country riders about the warm weather. Cookson said. interest is growing in the region In 2002, Qatar became the in the Middle East. “Obviously this is a part of Just a day before the cham- and praised the efforts of the first country in the region to “I don’t think we’re going to the world where cycling is not an pionships kicked off in Doha, Local Organising Committee stage a UCI event and a few years be in the Gulf every two or three immediately popular sport, but I Cookson said cycling was winning (LOC) in Qatar for ‘doing a good later the Qatar Cycling Federation years for the World Champion- think we’ll see a good crowd on over new audiences pretty fast. job’ in hosting the UCI World Road (QCF) added a women’s event to its ships but let’s make an appraisal Sunday. It is what it is. We’re here,” “We’ve witnessed a tremen- Championships. annual calendar. at the end of the week,” Cookson he said defiantly. dous change in fortunes for our Cookson was speaking at a After Qatar’s ground-breaking said. Cookson said despite con- sport in the last two decades. I press conference during a break success, countries like Oman and “We’ve got to bear in mind that cerns about the rising mercury come from the UK where cycling in competition yesterday. the UAE followed with their own it’s not just about spectators on the during competition time, there activity used to be moderate. But all “I think it’s fair to say that this UCI events in what was seen as a ground, but also about television had been ‘no actual cases of heat that has changed now. More peo- is a part of the world where inter- positive jump in cycling popular- images and the television audi- exhaustion.’ ple than ever are riding bicycles on est in our sport is growing,” Cook ity in the region. ence as well,” he said. “We have not had any cases of a daily basis. The same is the case said. Four years ago, Qatar suc- “The decision to come here heat exhaustion or heat stroke, as with Switzerland, where I’m cur- “It’s still relatively small in cessfully bid to host this week’s was made four years ago, there I’ve been advised by the medical rently based,” Cookson said. terms of the number of specta- UCI World Road Championships, was a lot of discussion about it at team. We’ve had plenty of cases “People have woken up to the tors on the roadside but we are another first for the sport-loving the time,” Cookson said. of exhaustion, plenty of cases of health benefits of cycling. Rid- here. They are doing a good job nation. When questioned about the riders being extremely fatigued, ing a bicycle to work helps cut for us, they’re promoting the race Cookson - who served as pres- warm weather that has engulfed which you get at any World Cham- your spending on fuel. People well, the standard of organisation ident of British Cycling from 1996 the Qatari capital over the past pionships, but no actual cases of are wholeheartedly embracing is high,” he added to 2013 before taking charge of week, Cookson said there was heat exhaustion, so I’m advised by the new culture of healthy liv- UCI President Brian Cookson “There’s a lot of interest in the world body said it would be mixed reaction from the riders our medical team,” Cookson said. ing,” he said. Defending UCI Road World Champion, Slovakia’s Peter Dideriksen stuns favourites Sagan . to become world champion Danish prodigy comes from behind to spoil Dutch star Kirsten Wild’s birthday party Cavendish and Sagan The Peninsula ready for battle DOHA: Denmark’s Amalie Dideriksen shocked pre-event AFP favourites to win the Women’s Elite Road Race at the UCI Road World Championships Doha 2016 DOHA: Britain’s Mark yesterday. Cavendish (pictured) will The twenty-year-old Dan- be eying a possible sec- ish prodigy came from behind ond world road race title to spoil Kirsten Wild’s birthday in Doha today, but should party for the world title, timing face a stern challenge her sprint to perfection to take from reigning champion the coveted rainbow jersey. Peter Sagan. Finland’s Lotta Lepisto took For the first time third, with defending champion since 2011 the World Lizzie Deignan of Britain finish- Championship course is ing fourth. best suited to sprinters, “I think it is a surprise for giving in-form Cavend- everybody,” said Dideriksen Denmark’s Amalie Dideriksen (centre) on her way to win the Women’s Elite Road Race at the UCI Road World Championships ish plenty to be excited immediately afterwards. about. The 31-year-old “I know I am OK in the sprint, Doha 2016 yesterday. Briton won that race in but taking the world champion- 2011 in Copenhagen when he was the height of his pow- ship is unbelievable.” The strong Dutch team had that had no impact on her final senior podium place at the ers. After seemingly being eclipsed by German Marcel Dideriksen already won the dominated the later stages of the WOMEN’S ROAD RACE position. World Cycling Championships Kittel as the world’s best sprinter since, Cavendish was juniors world title twice and she race and it seemed like the even- 1. Amalie Dideriksen (Denmark) 3:10:27” Wild, record winner in the for Finland. back in form this season, winning four stages during is only the sixth woman to win tual winner would come from 2. Kirsten Wild (Netherlands) Ladies Tour of Qatar, went full Before the sprint finish it July’s Tour de France before claiming Olympic silver the senior world Road Race title their ranks before Dideriksen’s 3. Lotta Lepistoe (Finland) pace when Vos gave way, but the looked as if America’s Amber on the track in Rio in August in the omnium. after also having won junior gold last minute intervention. 4. Elizabeth Deignan (Great Britain) sprint was just a little too long. Neben was on course for a rare Qatar also holds good memories for Cavendish, (France’s CatherienMarsal and The Dane finished the 5. Marta Bastianelli (Italy) “It would’ve been good if double. who won the Tour of Qatar in February for the sec- Pauline Ferrand-Prévot, Lithua- 134-kilometre course in a time 6. Roxane Fournier (France) there were more breakaways. But She had already taken gold in ond time after also succeeding in 2013. nia’s Diana Žiliūtė, Briton Nicole of 3hr 10min 27sec. 7. Chloe Hosking (Australia) I’m not really disappointed,” she the individual time trial earlier Today’s race could set up a fascinating encounter Cooke and Dutchwoman Mari- Pre-race favourite Wild, a explained. this week and the 41-year-old 8. Sheyla Gutierrez (Spain) with one of the star’s of the year. anne Vos the other five). four-time winner of the Ladies She also added that despite made an almost decisive breaka- 9. Joelle Numainville (Canada) Peter Sagan won’t be giving up the rainbow jersey The tight finish looked set Tour of Qatar, admitted she was losing the gold medal, her birth- way carving out a lead of almost he won last year easily and has proved that even in flat to deliver gold for Wild after unhappy to have come second on 10. Jolien D’Hoore (Belgium) day party will definitely occur: a minute in the closing stages. sprints he can match the pure sprinters. sterling work by her Dutch team- a flat course with such a strong “It’s my birthday today and I’m The UCI Road World Cham- Last year he saw off the challenge of Australia’s mates set her up for a potential team ride. but she was brought back to going to have a party tonight.” pionships Doha 2016 draw to a Michael Matthews to win gold and he has continued title-winning finish 300m from Wild suffered a crash at a the bunch by team mate Rox- The surprise bronze medal close today when the men com- his good form throughout 2016. the line. roundabout in the first full lap, ane Knetemann, but admitted for Lepisto, was the first ever pete in the road race.