Ooredoo sponsors the Ride of Champions 2019

At a press conference held last Thursday at the company’s headquarters in West Bay, Ooredoo announced it is the Title Sponsor of the Ride of Champions, Qatar’s community cycle event, aimed at promoting cycling as part of a healthy, active lifestyle.

The Ooredoo Ride of Champions, set to be held at Ceremonial Court, Qatar Foundation on 15 March 2019, is organised by Qatar Cycling Centre, the officially recognised cycling centre under the umbrella of the Ministry of Culture and Sport in Qatar. 2019 is the third year of the event, and this year’s ride is expected to attract record numbers of participants and spectators.

The ride includes five different distances so all the family and all levels of fitness can join in, from youngsters trying out bikes for the first time to seasoned cycling enthusiasts taking on the full 137.5km Ride of Champions. The family, beginners and youth rides will be held in a secure, sheltered area around the Qatar Foundation and the Al Shaqab Arabian horse breeding area, providing a safe place in which those new to the sport and less confident can enjoy their day, and the kids’ ride will be held at Green Spine in Oxygen Park.

Longer distances head further out into the surrounding areas and, while the routes feature no climbs, organisers say the full-distance Ride of Champions course takes riders out into exposed, flat areas of Qatar which can be windy at this time of year; not for the faint-hearted!

• The long route of 137.5km is the true Ride of Champions; suitable for experienced riders with a high level of fitness
• The medium route of 78km is suitable for riders with good fitness and cycling experience
• The short route of 48km is a good challenge for fit participants who want to challenge themselves
• The family, beginners and youth rides are aimed at families who want to ride together, young riders and riders who are new to the sport
• The kids’ ride is for children between 3 and 8 years, with parents welcome to accompany their little ones

Speaking about the event, Manar Khalifa Al-Muraikhi – Director PR and Corporate Communications at Ooredoo – said: “Ooredoo is committed to supporting sports and community events as a key part of our corporate social responsibility strategy, and the Ooredoo Ride of Champions is an excellent opportunity for us to show our support. Staying active is an integral part of a healthy, balanced lifestyle and it’s wonderful to see events such as these promoting sports and fitness. We hope all riders enjoy a great day out.”

Dr. Abulazziz Al Kuwari, President Qatar Cyclists, commented: “We are delighted to reach this agreement with Ooredoo. They spare no effort in endorsing sports and community events in Qatar. This partnership will allow us to deliver a superb edition of Ride of Champions, the biggest cycling event in Qatar and one of the biggest three events in the region.” “When we launched Qatar Cyclists in 2014, we never imagined that five years later we will see this number of participants in a community event. It’s another important milestone and a proud moment for everyone in the center,” he added.

Mr. Ali M. Al Kuwari, Managing Director of Ooredoo Ride of Champions, commented: “We are only few days away from what will be the biggest ever cycling festival in Qatar, and we are looking forward to welcome all the riders. We would like to thank Ooredoo and all our partners for their support to the event. Without them it would have not been possible to make this a reality. Also, special thanks to Qatar National Tourism Council, Qatar Foundation, Qatar Cycling Federation, The Ministry of Culture and Sports, and of course the Police, without whose support, the event would be logistically and structurally impossible to deliver.”     

The event will enjoy a full service of vehicle support to ensure safety on the longer routes, with support vehicles (including tech support) along the route and police cars and lead vehicles in front of groups on the road. Backup vehicles will be available behind the last riders, and medical services will be on hand behind each ride group and at the start and finish areas. There will be an ROC Fan Zone at Ceremonial Court with food and beverages and a host of activities for all the families, and plenty of lucky draw prizes from sponsors throughout the day.

Registration closes on 10 March 2019. For more information on the Ride Of Champions event, and to register, please visit https://www.rocdoha.qa/registration/ and for more on Ooredoo and other events we sponsor, please visit ooredoo.qa.