About ROC

The Concept

Following the success of the “Ride of Champions” campaign and mass participation event, hosted during the UCI Road World Championships in October 2016, Qatar Cycling Center have taken the significant step, with the support of Qatar’s cycling and sporting communities, to host and grow the event on an annual basis and build a sporting and health and fitness legacy in the community.

The 2016 ride brought 1000 adult cyclists, of all ages and levels of experience from beginners to the experience amateurs by creating a safe, well structured, and friendly environment for all participants. From 2017 onwards, the event grew to include families, children, youth and adults from beginner to professional participating in a one-day festival of cycling, with multiple fun events, where each is a champion in his/her own right.

For Qatar to stake its claim as a leader in the cycling community of the GCC, we believe it is important that this is a flagship/mass participation event that does not only attract local but international participants, and will showcase the quality and potential of cycling events in Qatar, build the community and encourage health and fitness.

The Ride of Champions

Qatar Cycling Center

The Organizers

Officially established in 2014, Qatar Cycling Center (also known as Qatar Cyclists) was established by a group of Qatari cycling lovers. The dream of having their own team quickly grew and was realized not only by forming Qatar Cyclists team but also becoming the officially recognized cycling center under the umbrella of the Ministry of Culture and Sport in Qatar to encourage the growth of cycling in the community and help develop the sporting potential of the nation but also its health and wellbeing.

About Cycling in Qatar

Qatar has gained recognition over recent years as a location for international cycling events. World Class events such as the UCI recognized Tour of Qatar and Tour of Al Zubarah were hosted in the country from 2002 to 2016, attracting some of the superstars of road cycling.

The State of Qatar hosted the 89th edition of the Road World Championships organized by the Union Cycliste Internationale. Doha welcomed around 1000 athletes from 75 countries and more than 5700 participants from national federations, delegations, technicians and journalists. Qatar was the first country in the Middle East and the Arab World and the second in Asia after Japan to host the event.

During the World Championships, Qatar Cyclists organized the biggest mass participation cycling event to date in Qatar with over 900 cyclists (including around 150 cyclists arriving from abroad) taking on the lap of the Road World Championships.

We believe it is a great time to seize the momentum and spin the wheels even faster to grow the beautiful sport of cycling to greater heights.

Cycling in Qatar has taken off in the past few years due to more and more people engaging in an active lifestyle. It is a low impact sport and can be done individually but also as a group. It is a great family activity, which can be enjoyed in a safe and friendly environment, on road or off road.