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CYCLING
Whether racing over highways or doing stunts through the city, this niche sport is going strong this July


Cycling is an intensely physical sport and one would expect that the summer heat of the sultanate would hardly be the perfect time for organising an open cycle race at four in the evening. Yet we found ourselves waiting at the Azaiba festival grounds as the competing cyclists arrived in twos and threes. The Ministry of Sports Affairs was organising an open cycle race from the festival grounds to the Seeb Garden roundabout. The race would see the cyclists complete two and a half laps – from the roundabout near the festival grounds to the garden roundabout in Seeb and back, each 20km long. Waiting under the harsh sun for the race to start one could not help but wonder at the stamina that the riders must have to be able to complete the race distance in the searing heat. The riders, however, seemed to be devoid of any such concern. They were more concerned about whether the wheel nuts were tight enough or if their lap timers were working perfectly.

There were few participants, just those who were passionate enough about the sport to come and spend a Friday afternoon cycling from Azeiba to Seeb and back. While some of the racers were not much older than 13, the oldest of the competitors, Hareb Said al Hajri, was 67 years old. The competitors were an odd mix of first-timers, amateurs and professionals. The single blast of a hand-held horn signalled the start of the race, with the riders pedalling away furiously. As the participants pedalled away into the distance, al Hajri, a taxi driver by profession, was easily outdistanced. But the grit and sheer determination of the grandfather would earn him respect anywhere.

The five cyclists from the professional team were soon way ahead of the others. Bunched up in a group, riding line astern, it was easy to see that the coordination of their movements, their equipment and their style of riding were superior to the others.

Although one would have expected that the road on which the race was being conducted would be closed down for safety’s sake, the authorities and the ROP did a fantastic job of shepherding the cyclists away from harm’s way whenever there were cars on the road.

At the end of the gruelling race there were five winners. Saeed Khalfan al Rawahi walked away with the top honours, while Ahmed Said al Rahbi received the prize for second place. Khalifa Mudafar al Amry, Zaeed Khalfan al Rawabi and Ibrahim al Wahibi finished the race in third, fourth and fifth places.

Meanwhile, far away from the frantic pace of the Azaiba race, a young Omani was setting out on his bicycle through a deserted inner-city parking lot. Unlike the others – all crouching together against the wind, he stood upright, with one foot in the air, all the while wheeling his bike over a pedestrian ramp.

Meet Adnan Raisi, one of the foremost exponents of bicycle stunt-riding in Oman. With fifteen different poses in his kitty, he can leap into the air, pose with outstretched arms and is easily the centre of attention wherever he performs. In Adnan’s deft hands, and feet, the humble bicycle is transformed into a tool for his acrobatics, destined for great things. It all began in 1998 when a team from France displayed its stunts on cycles at the Muscat Festival and a 12-year-old lad watched, fascinated. They shared their tricks with Adnan and despite falls, he persisted, and within a week realised he was getting better at it. Over the years, Adnan has modified and polished these stunts, and developed his own inimitable styles.

“I have registered with the Ministry of Sports and they gave me the cycle and helmet. They also invite me to perform for shows,” the stunt man said.

Scores of people have watched his feats at the Muscat Festival and the Salalah Khareef Festival, among others. But he can also be spotted all over the city during his daily practice sessions. “I want to participate in more shows and get a chance to display my talent to a global audience.”

Although not considered extremely cyclist-friendly, the sultanate provides ample opportunity for those keen to pedal it out. There are there are two main streams of bike sport: road cycling and mountain biking, with each of them having several streams. Mountain biking (also known as MTB), easily the more popular form of the sport thanks to the nature of the countryside, consists of cross country cycling, downhill attempts, free riding and so on.

Many of the riders indulge in both the mountain as well as the road variety. To find your true calling, all you need is a bicycle. All it takes is the sheer simplicity of two wheels.