The excitement continues on the roads of the Qassim region as the 2026 Asian Road Cycling Championships, the continent's premier sporting event, continues. The championships bring together the best cyclists from across Asia. The second day of competition saw an exceptional performance from the Kazakh national team, which dominated the individual time trials, cementing its position as a leading force in Asian cycling.
In a highly competitive atmosphere and amidst organization reflecting the growing stature of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on the global sports map, three major races were held, with Kazakhstan sweeping all three gold medals. In the women's individual time trial, Kazakhstan's Anil Tashbay took first place, while Lu Ching-Kiu of Hong Kong came in second, and India's Anjali Jhakar finished third.
The situation was no different in the under-23 youth category, where Kazakhstan's Mansur Besembay secured the gold medal, ahead of Mongolia's Khadbaatar, who took silver, while China's Cheng Ju claimed bronze. Kazakhstan's dominance culminated in the elite men's race, which saw Evgeny Fedorov crowned champion, followed by his compatriot Nikolay Vinokourov in second place, and Chih-Hao Tu of Chinese Taipei completing the podium in third.
Historical context and importance of the championship
The Asian Cycling Championships, organized by the Asian Cycling Confederation, is one of the oldest continental championships, with its first edition held in 1963. The championships are of paramount importance as a key qualifying event for Asian cyclists for the World Cycling Championships and the Olympic Games, thus raising the level of competition and attracting the continent's top talent. The Kingdom's hosting of this event is not a coincidence, but rather part of a comprehensive strategy under Saudi Vision 2030, which aims to diversify the economy and enhance the Kingdom's position as a global hub for sports, tourism, and entertainment, attracting major international events such as the Dakar Rally, Formula 1 races, and the Tour of AlUla.
Local and international impact of the event
Locally, hosting a championship of this magnitude in the Qassim region highlights its tourism potential and advanced infrastructure, while also encouraging cycling among Saudi youth and inspiring a new generation of athletes. A remarkable level of public enthusiasm was observed, with many sports fans closely following the races, some even choosing to camp in the desert to ensure they were present from the very start, reflecting a growing sporting culture in the Kingdom. Internationally, the successful organization of the championship enhances Saudi Arabia's reputation as a country capable of hosting and organizing major sporting events efficiently and professionally, firmly establishing its presence on the global cycling map.
At the conclusion of the day’s competitions, the winners were crowned in a ceremony attended by the President of the Saudi Cycling Federation, Abdullah Al-Shahrani, and the Secretary-General of the Asian Cycling Federation, Kozi, where the champions were honored and given their well-deserved medals, amidst celebrations reflecting the values of sportsmanship and fair competition.
