RIYADH, 19 April — Young Saudi star, Abdulaziz Al Sharani finally broke through to the big time by winning the next two rounds of the Riyadh Wheelers Championship. His first success was the Zahid Tractor-sponsored 10-mile Time Trial, where he not only thrashed the established stars but also picked up the course record, posting an impressive 22m16s. A minute back was US strongman Blain Reeves, who simply commented, “Abdulaziz’s ride was incredible!” after suffering a rare defeat at this discipline. Next came championship leader and soon to be crowned champion, Patrice Delile who had traveled all the way from Dhahran for this short event but scored well ahead of some fresh names at the top of the leader board. Gerard Robards, back in Kingdom after vacation, showed he had not been idled and came in next ahead of super fit veteran Charlie Dryden, back from an International Ironman competition in New Zealand. The last pair of Rudi Project sun glasses were presented to Abdulaziz, who I’m sure will wear then to further successes. Category B was taken by champion L. Pentlebury with Paul McParland securing the Masters category.
Results: 1st A. Al Sharani 22m16; 2nd B. Reeves 23m09s; 3rd P. Delile 24m00s; 4th G. Robards 24m39s; 5th C. Dryden 24m42s; 6th P. McParland 25m03s; 7th J. Sunga 25m17s; 8th J. Oswald 26m03s; 9th E. Seneres 26m14s; 10th G. Morete 26m19s; 11th V. Babilonia 26m27s; 12th J. Bridge 26m42s
Abdulaziz Al Sharani’s second victory came in different circumstances when he easily outsprinted his fellow national team members in a display of strength and speed in the TNT sponsored 40km Road Race. The national team rode as a well organized group and only after a few kilometers were putting the Riyadh Wheelers under pressure. Even the experience and strength of Patrice Delile and Blain Reeves could not hold back the flying Saudi team, urged on by their team director Abdullah Al Sarhani. Behind the speedy quintet, the field was spreading out fast with gaps appearing everywhere. Delile and Reeves chased hard together while behind them a group containing Gerard Robards, George Morete and the only Saudi to have missed the move, Moussa Al Qahtani were also moving well keeping clear of the rest.This was to be the order they finished.
Results:1st A. Al Sharani; 2nd Fathi.Ahmed; 3rd Badr Al Yessan; 4th Habib Al Shabib; 5th Ali Daoud; 6th P.Delile; 7th ; 8th G.Robards; 9th Moussa Al Qahtani; 10th G.Morete; 11th H.Rom; 12th J.Sunga.
