Skydive Dubai Pro Cycling Team picked up two stage wins at the recently-concluded Tour of Singkarak in Indonesia thanks to some remarkable racing from riders Oscar Pujol Munoz and Soufiane Haddi.
The Dubai-based pro team finished 11th in the overall team classification and saw Pujol Munoz cross the finish line first in Stage 5 to add to the 30-year-old's opening day podium place.
Spaniard Munoz is a former champion of the Tour of Singkarak having claimed the Yellow Jersey there in 2012 with Azad University Cross Team.
Meanwhile Morocco’s 23-year-old Haddi won Stage 8 – a 183km course from Sawahlunto to Solok Selatan – and finished second in Stage 6 and Stage 9.
The UAE Cycling Federation Team (UAECF) also enjoyed a great Tour of Singkarak with Yousif Mirza clinching the Green Jersey after the first stage – where he placed second – and keeping it for the next four stages.
Mirza, 27, says he is essentially a climber but he was thrilled to have worn the sprint jersey in Indonesia. “It was a huge honour to wear that jersey for four stages,” Mirza told Sport360.
“We did quite well in Indonesia and I’m particularly proud of our results because there were some really good pro teams there from Australia, from east Asia… Japan are a very good team and they were there.
“All this is good preparation for the upcoming Asian Games in Inchean in September.”
Mirza is the leader of the very young UAECF team, who mostly compete in continental tours. He says they have a five-year plan to try and reach top-tier level.
“Step by step we’ll reach our goals. I consider the British Sky team the perfect role models. They made a four-year-plan to win the Tour de France and they did it in 2012.
“We are in control of the Gulf scene now, have done well in the Arab world and are getting competitive in Asia.
“Together with the young riders in our team and the work of the federation I believe we can win our first Asian medal soon and after that we can think international.”
Abdulnasser Omran, the secretary general of the UAECF, was thrilled with the team’s work in Indonesia and was particularly pleased with Mirza’s continuous progress amongst other cyclists in the UCI Asia Tour ranking.
Mirza is currently ranked sixth in the individual continental rankings with a total of 94 points.
“He did a great race but let’s not forget the hard work done by the team as a whole,” said Omran. “We are trying to retain our Asian ranking as a team. We were fourth last year and we are trying to finish fourth this season as well.
“Mirza is also doing great in accumulating points to get a good individual ranking. He did well in the Philippines as well before Indonesia and wore the climbing jersey for several stages.”
