DUBAI // Yousuf Mirza, the UAE’s top cyclist, will be looking to catch the attention of the Pro Teams with a good show during the coming four days as he competes against his heroes Tony Martin and Mark Cavendish in the Dubai Tour.
Mirza, 24, an Arab, Arabian Gulf and national road champion, is part of the UAE national team, who start as underdogs in an event that boasts 11 UCI Pro Teams and the top three of the 2013 Asia Tour.
Even the Skydive Dubai Pro Cycling Team, the country’s second representative in the event, boast a mix of experienced international campaigners such as Argentine Lucas Sebastian Haedo, Spaniards Francisco Mancebo and Oscar Pujol, and Alexandre Pliuschin of Moldova.
Mirza knows his team have a tough task ahead of them, but the Dubai resident thinks they can spring some surprises.
“We have been training really hard for this event – not to win, of course, but just to put up a good show for everyone,” said Mirza, who spent a month in Portugal along with his teammates to prepare for the Dubai Tour.
“We know it is going to be really difficult against the professionals, but it is not impossible. If we have a chance, we will try to make the most of it. We know the roads and we know the weather, so this will be one point in our favour. If we can use that, we will be able to have a good race.”
Mirza, who finished fourth in the 30-kilometre men’s elite track event at the 2012 Asian Championships in Malaysia and 17th at the UCI Track Cycling World Championships in Melbourne the same year, has been a regular on the road circuit in recent times.
A policeman by profession, he has won events such as the 2011 UAE International Tour, the 2012 Tour of Sharjah and the Tour of Al Zubarah in Qatar last year. Confidence is not in short supply and Mirza hopes to impress the bosses of the Pro teams.
“All the top Pro Tour teams are here and I have a chance of showing myself,” he said. “If I can do well, I am sure I can get some offers. Nothing is impossible.
“This will be a new step in my career. I will be able to see what professional cycling means, and what it is like competing against these top guys. I hope I can give a good account of myself. There is no pressure on us, we just want to enjoy the experience, give our best and see what our level is.
“Of course, we have our goals as well and my goal is to show the world the UAE have a good cycling team.”
arizvi@thenational.ae
