Al Salam Cycling Championship Women’s Race Crowned Lorena Wiebes As Dubai Champion

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum attended part of the Women’s Race at the 10th Al Salam Cycling Championship, where Dubai Police–Esaad rider Lorena Wiebes took victory in the 93 km event. The race, offering a world-record prize purse of AED460,000, drew leading female cyclists from the UAE and abroad to Al Marmoom Desert Conservation Reserve.

Wiebes secured first place for Dubai Police/Esaad after a tactical final sprint inside Al Marmoom Reserve, earning AED100,000. Teammate Femke Markus finished second, collecting AED70,000, while Dubai Residence Cycling Club A rider Nina Kessler placed third and received AED50,000. Dubai Police/Esaad also topped the team classification, ahead of Dubai Residence Cycling Club A and Dubai Residence Cycling Club B.

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Mouza Al Mansoori won the Emirati Women’s over-40 category, reflecting strong national participation in age-group racing. In the Open Women’s over-40 field, Yulia Polevaya from Airwerks Team 1 claimed first place. These results highlighted depth in both community and club-level competition, complementing the elite international line-up on the main Women’s Race podium.

The race started in front of Al Qudra Endurance Village in the Saih Al Salam area, passing natural and historical landmarks before entering the quieter surroundings of Al Marmoom Desert Conservation Reserve. Spectators watched from roadside viewing points, while broader audiences followed live coverage through television and digital media platforms, ensuring national and regional reach.

The flag-off was conducted by Mohammed Al-Mousa, member of the Supreme Organising Committee of the Al Salam Championship and Chairman of the Technical Committee. Operational planning involved route management, safety coordination and timekeeping, aligning with international cycling standards while adapting to desert terrain and local climate conditions along the Saih Al Salam corridor.

Oversight of the event came from Omair bin Juma Al Falasi, Director General of the Private Office of His Highness the Ruler of Dubai and Chairman of the Supreme Organising Committee of the Al Salam Cycling Championship. Al Falasi thanked His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum for continued guidance and support, which helped shape the championship’s community-focused approach over ten editions.

Al Falasi also praised the athletes’ efforts and performance levels. "The highly competitive field reflects the marked improvement in performances of female participants and their meticulous preparations," he said. The strong racing level indicated increased training standards among UAE-based and visiting riders, supported by better team structures and technical backing across the women’s peloton.

Al Falasi noted: "This gives us great joy as organisers and helps us advance one of our most important goals: attracting increased participation across every successive edition of this community competition. The enthusiastic participation of women has been among the notable highlights of the tenth edition of the championship. We will continue to find new ways to raise the benchmark for community engagement, helping both male and female athletes hone their skills and elevate their performances with prizes that represent a significant incentive for teams and individuals alike."

Expanding on the role of women’s events, Al Falasi stated: "The tenth edition of the championship features two races dedicated to women. This is testament to His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum’s vision to empower women in all spheres and enable their contributions in diverse sectors. We are keen to continue our support for women's sports through this championship, which aims to inspire our female athletes to give their best and emerge winners at major events."

The 10th Al Salam Cycling Championship is held under the slogan ‘Ten Years of Achievements and Success’. The programme opened last month with the Emirati Men’s Amateur Race, organised with Dubai Police General Command under the theme ‘Safety and Security’. That event was followed by the Elite Race, also named HH The Ruler of Dubai Court Race, which brought together experienced professional and semi-professional cyclists.

Further competition is scheduled, with desert races for men and women set for 31 January and 1 February, respectively, on routes around the Saih Al Salam and Al Marmoom area. An additional race is planned, with details to be released later, extending the championship calendar and providing more opportunities for local and regional cyclists across categories.

The Al Salam Cycling Championship is organised with several strategic partners: Dubai Police, Dubai Municipality, Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority, Dubai Sports Council, the Government of Dubai Media Office, the Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum International Photography Award, Dubai Sports Channel, the UAE Cycling Federation acting as General Referee, and Dubai Film. Their roles span logistics, regulation, media coverage and technical supervision.

The Women’s Race at the 10th Al Salam Cycling Championship underlined Dubai’s capacity to host large-scale community cycling events while supporting women’s sport. Strong elite performances, dedicated age categories, and extensive institutional cooperation combined to create a high-profile competition that aligned with long-term objectives for wider participation and athlete development in the UAE.

With inputs from WAM