The First Saudi Woman Cycling Champion
DHAHRAN — After years of hard work and dedication to the sport, Ahlam Al-Zaid, business systems analyst, snatched the gold medal at the first Saudi women cycling championship in the Kingdom on Aug 24, 2020.
Soaring past her competition, she completed the 13-km race in 22:18 and made history. Ahlam competed alongside nine other cyclists who qualified for the world-class tournament. The race was organized by the Saudi Cycling Federation and held in breezy Abha, in the Asir Region.
Changing Gears
It all started in the summer of 2018, when Ahlam bought her first road bike. She had been feeling uninspired after being forced by injury to quit her beloved Crossfit after three years.
And while cycling was exciting, it proved to be a challenge. “When a friend introduced me to cycling, I thought to myself: I like spinning and I liked riding bikes when I was a kid,” she said. “But I quickly realized there’s a lot that goes into riding a bike if you’re taking the professional route.”
It wasn’t long before Ahlam began signing up for local competitions, coming in first place in an open race held at Princess Nora University in Riyadh, and second among Saudi women in an open race held in Al-Khobar.
The races were part of a series organized by the Saudi Sports for All Federation (SFA) and supported by the Saudi Cycling Federation.
Adapting to COVID-19
Interest in cycling has been growing steadily in the Kingdom, especially for women. official figures show that around 1.1 percent of the Saudi population cycle on a weekly basis, of which 32 percent are women.
However, the COVID-19 pandemic has led many organizations to postpone or cancel races and events this year. “2020 has been tricky for everyone,” said Ahlam, noting athletes cannot be at their top fitness level all year round as they generally have a building phase that allows them to peak for scheduled races. “The [national championship] was technically off season because we don’t usually have races in the summer,” she said.
During the lockdown period, Ahlam was able to practice on her indoor trainer. “It was a blessing and a curse,” she said. “I spent hours training indoors but It was also a curse because I wasn’t able to enjoy being outside while riding; it’s the ultimate stress reliever.”
To qualify for the national championship, women riders participated in a virtual race on their indoor trainers, which monitored their vital signs. The athletes were also asked to set up a camera for the judges to ensure the integrity of the race.
“A lot of the pro races happened virtually this year,” said Ahlam. “You have to worry about different things like your connectivity and whether your equipment is working. It’s similar to a real race but you’re doing it from your home.”
The Big Race
Ahlam won the virtual race and began preparing for the final tournament, which would take place in Al Mahalla, Abha. Her training would take her to Al Baha, where she stayed for three weeks to acclimate elevation.
“I went into the race confident but worried at the same time,” said Ahlam. “You never go into a race 100 percent believing that you’ll win but I did the hard work and I had a huge support system around me so I couldn’t think of not winning. I had to go and give it everything I had.”
To comply with COVID-19 precautions, the race was modified to keep riders one minute apart from each other. An individual time trial race is also dubbed “the race of truth” because it does not allow riders to implement tactics for gaining momentum or slowing down competitors.
“I was overwhelmed by the reaction I received,” said Ahlam after winning first place. “I didn’t know anyone would appreciate what it means that we had the first championship. I thought only the cycling community would celebrate this event but I got a huge reaction.”
The Mentality of a Winner
Ahlam has recovery weeks where she trains for 5–6 hours, other weeks she trains for up to 15 hours. But she believes building fitness is half the battle.
“What your mind believes you can do is a big part of cycling,” she said. “You can easily give up and say my legs hurt — of course your legs will hurt! But if your mind is not strong enough to push through that pain then you’re going to give up and retreat instead of pushing yourself to the end.”
For Ahlam, consistency trumps talent. “You can have bad days but as long as you are consistent you’ll see improvement 100 percent.”
Her advice for beginners hoping to become professionals is to join groups and other cyclists that can help show them the ropes. “There’s definitely a learning curve, confidence is a big factor, and the gear is also essential,” she said. “I still struggle with the technical aspect of it but the key is to ask a friend. It’s what makes cycling a well-rounded sport because it develops you in different areas.”
And of course, “if you take care of your bike, it will take care of you.”
