Abha Trophy

The Abha Trophy participants in the lobby of the Abha Palace Hotel.photos : © Pierre Teyssot

85 racers representing 7 nations are competing during 6 days on this international MTB raid. This 4^th edition of the Abha Trophy, in Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Aseer area, south west of the Arabian Peninsula, is high in expectations.

 “This 4^th edition is already a success and the cooperation with the Saudis is excellent” comments Roland Stieger (CFR, company organising the Raid), who comes from the French Alps. The MTB Saudi team is composed of 7 athletes...

THE FINAL VICTORY TO NICOLAS VERMEULEN (BEL) AND A SUCCESFUL BICYCLE FESTIVAL

85 racers representing 7 nations were competing during 6 days on the 4th edition of the Abha Trophy, international MTB raid, in Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Aseer area in the south west of the Arabian Peninsula.

The 4th edition of this Abha Tropy have been conclude by a 21 km’s stage won by the Italian Guiseppe Lamastrathis Friday with finish line at Abha Palace Hotel.

Nicolas Vermeulen from Belgium won the over all ahead of the French Emanuel Morel and the Italian Guiseppe Lamastra.

 

QUOTES

Nicolas Vermeulen (BEL) Equipe Lingier, 1st final ranking: “ This overall victory makes me really happy! I just would like also to have seen a victory for my friend and team mate Peter Coddens... The desert stages were really beautiful”

Emmanuel Morel (FRA , Equipe Sojasun) – Final Ranking 2 : “ I was really not expecting to be on the finale podium! But I think I have been also a bit lucky, no punctures, I have just fall downs two times! The Second stage was the most beautiful for me”

Guiseppe LAMASTRA (ITA, Val d’Aoste – Equipe HardRock MTB) 23 ans, Final Ranking 3 : “ My target today was to try to overhead Emanuel Morel in the overall ranking, I won the stage but I am still third on the general ranking. Anyway this Trophy will stay a beautiful memory for me”

Marc Hervé Binet – Médecin de la course : “ Beaucoup d’épines, des ampoules, trois 3 perfusions, un fracture du poignet et une fracture de cote ! On peu s’estimer heureux quand on voit où nous sommes passé. La coopération avec les secours et les services hospitaliers locaux a été excellente.

Francois Bidaut CFR, société chamoniarde organisatrice du Raid :  “ It’s done! And it seems that racers are happy! About future, I am sure we will have one, but now let see how it will be.”

Loqman A. Al-Bulushi (KSA) : “ We are proud about what happen here, we have spent good time, and we were very happy to receive all the competitors. HRH Prince Faisal Bin Khalid governor of the Aseer Region, have done everything to support this race. Congratulations to the winners, and for sure we are all winners! I hope this race will happen again, it’s a real MTB festival and Saudi Arabia is a real good place for such event!”

Competitor's list