Dubai – MENA Herald: Dubai’s leading cycling team, SkyDive Dubai Pro Cycling Team today announced its team for the 2016 edition of the Dubai Tour. The 17 member team comprises of cyclists from the UAE (7), Italy (2), Morocco (2), Portugal (1), Spain (1), Ukraine (1), Albania (1) and Tunisia (2).
“The SkyDive Dubai Pro Cycling Team was formed in line with the vision of H.H. Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of the Dubai Sports Council. We are committed to developing local athletes and inspiring them to participate in the sport,” said H.E. Nasser Al Neyadi, President of the Emirates Aero Sport Federation and Chairman of the board of SkyDive Dubai.
Looking to improve on their excelent standing in the 2015 Dubai Tour, the team comprises of a mix of tour specialists, climbers, time trial specialists, and sprinters, thereby bringing together riders with the right combination of skills. In recent months, athletes from the SkyDive Dubai Pro Cycling Team have won gold at a number of regional tournaments including the Jelajah Tour, NAS Games race, Sharjah Tour, Amissa Bongo Tour, Singkarak Tour, Egypt Tour, Al Zubara Tour (Qatar),
The SkyDive Dubai Pro Cycling Team also unveiled their 2016 kit which will be used at the Dubai Tour. The kit will present a new color as base one, with SkyDive Dubai logo. Sponsors to be featured on the jerseys will include Dubai Sports City, Audi, Argon18 cycles, FSA/Vision components and Ale cycling wear. The official team transport partner will be Al Nabooda Automobiles thru Audi.
Mr. Mansoor Bousaiba, former Emirati cyclist who represented the country at the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona is the team’s General Manager and will be responsible for developing the team’s strategy for the future. His knowledge of the UAE terrain will prove valuable to the team as they prepare for the Dubai Tour. SkyDive Dubai has also appointed, Mr Amberto Volpi as the team’s Sports Director, that will be full time with our Emirati athletes, providing them all they need to assure their evolution.
Commenting on the announcement, Bousaiba said: “We have formed a team that has mixed experience athletes from across the World and Emirati athletes which we believe will benefit the team and support the evolution of our Emirati athletes”
“We also brought on board a very experienced and renowned Sports Director, Alberto Volpi, with a huge background in some of the best teams Worldwide, his knowhow will definitely help us to improve and grow as a team”
He also added: “The support from Al Ahli Club , Dubai Sports City, Audi – AL Nabooda Automotive, and all our technical sponsors (Argon18, FSA, Vision, Ale, Vittoria shoes, Prologo sadlles, Vittoria tires, Look Pedals, Oakley sunglasses, Compressport, Elite bottles and trainers, Scicon bike bags, Zero nanolubricants) they all play a essential role in the success that the team is achieving in both, Asia Tour and Africa Tour, this year the team will take part in some important races in Europe, like Settimana Coppi e Bartali and Giro di Trentino”
Following the 2016 Dubai Tour, the SkyDive Dubai Pro Cycling team will travel to Qatar to participate in the International UCI Tour of Qatar then onward to Philippines for their National Tour, and the calendar will follows with the incursion of the team to important races in Europe.