Cycle KOM’s Mohammed al Wahibi capped his brilliant run in the Oman Cycling Association (OCA) League Championship 2023-24 by emerging the overall winner after the seventh and final race on Friday.
Mohammed took the red jersey for overall champion as well as white jersey for the topper of the under-23 category with 491 points from the seven races. Cycle KOM captain Paul Willcox completed the dominance of his team in this season when he claimed the green jersey for overall winner in the 40 plus category with 439 points.
Said al Rahbi of the Royal Army of Oman (468 points) came overall second while Salalah Club’s Mundher al Hasani (465) was third. Willcox finished fourth while Royal Army of Oman’s Hussam al Rawahi ended fifth overall with 435 points.
In the concluding road race at the Knowledge Oasis for 61.2 km, Royal Army of Oman’s Mishari al Khalili came top with a time of one hour 27 minutes and 48 seconds followed by Willcox on same time and Salalah Club’s Mundher al Hasani (1:29:26) in third position.
Cycle KOM’s British rider David Hynes was fourth while Oman Club’s Egyptian rider Islam Ayad finished fifth with the same timings.
Willcox said Cycle KOM riders executed their strategy perfectly to sweep the honours in General Category.
‘CAT AND MOUSE RACE’
“On only the second lap with 54 km to go, I saw an opportunity and decided to take it and broke away. I had Mishari with me, a good sprinter, but this was too good an opportunity with both our respective teams the strongest, and us out front I knew they wouldn’t work to chase us down. So, I kept a high pace and the two of us stayed out front. I kept on the front mostly knowing my TT strength would maintain a gap. With over 2 laps remaining, the last 2 laps were ‘cat and mouse’ between us, but Mishari just got the better of me on the finish line in what was a great race overall for me personally and the team today,” Willcox explained the race experience.
In the team standings, the Royal Army of Oman topped the League with 1,490 points, followed by Cycle KOM with 1,431 points in second while Salalah Club (1,325) finished third.
Oman Club (800) came fourth and Wave Riders (490) were fifth in the 15-team OCA League.
In the Under-23 section, Mundher came second while Ayad (405) finished third overall.
In the 40 plus category, Cycle KOM’s Daniel Baldwin (357) claimed the second spot and team-mate Gregory Pollard came third overall with 164 points.
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