Ladies Tour of Qatar 2016 Kicks off Today

Doha, February 02 (QNA) - The Ladies Tour of Qatar is the first trial event for the UCI World Road Championships Doha 2016, and today's opening stage from Katara Cultural Village to Qatar University will give the riders an opportunity to sample the course that will be in offer for the rainbow jersey race during the global contest from October 9 to 16, 2016. Addressing a press conference on the eve of the start of the tour, on Monday, president of the Qatar Cycling Federation (QCF) and chairman of the Doha 2016 Sheikh Khalid bin Ali Al-Thani said: "The tour will be exciting like always. But this year it has an added significance as it is a trial stage for World Championships." He added: There are top notch teams taking part in the tour and the important aspect of the 97.5km long first stage is one round in Pearl Qatar. We will test the security there and see if we can close sectors and that residents of Pearl can have access to the race. During the men's tour we will do more laps," Sheikh Khalid said. On the participation of Qatar ladies team in the tour, he said, "I don't think so. They are not ready yet." Qatar is the first country in the Middle East and the Arab world and second in Asia after Japan to host the World Championships. The race kicks off today with a 98km route from Katara Cultural Village to Qatar University. Stage two on Wednesday covers 112km from the Sheikh Faisal Museum to Al Khor Corniche a city on the Northeast coast, which could give way to stronger winds towards the finish. Stage three on Thursday is 112km long and will take riders from the Al Zubarah Fort to Madinat Al Shamal the riders will then complete four laps, giving them a chance to taste the win three times as they pass the finish line before the actual finale. The final stage on Friday is the shortest at 73 km from Aspire Zone to Doha Corniche. The riders will complete an almighty eleven laps along the Doha Bay, where no doubt the wind will come into play in deciding the winner. (QNA)