Passionate sports enthusiasts who want to test their physical prowess against other athletes will be taking part in the Urban Ultra X-Tri Cross Country Triathlon, which is being held tomorrow in Kalba on the outskirts of Sharjah. Organised by Urban Ultra and sponsored by Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq), the Urban Ultra X-Tri Cross Country Triathlon is an important outdoor event taking place in the United Arab Emirates and one that is accessible to athletes, adventurers and multi-sport enthusiasts. Stakes are high in this year’s edition of the race as it has a pro-athlete prize fund of AED 20,000, sponsored by Shurooq.Competitors participating in the Urban Ultra X-Tri Cross Country Triathlon can choose between two different length courses, both of which comprise swimming, mountain biking and off-road running.
Super fit contestants can push their limits on the Championship course, which includes 1.5 km of swimming, 35 km of mountain biking and 10 km of running. For those preferring a less grueling but nevertheless still demanding race, the Sports course offers precisely half the distances in all three disciplines, with 750 m of swimming, 18.5 km of mountain biking and 5 km of trail running. Ahmed Obaid Al Qaseer, Chief Operating Officer of Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq), said; “The X-Tri Cross Country Triathlon contributes to promoting Sharjah to a new level in the sports sector. Hosting such a competition, which is a significant outdoor sports event in the region, cements the emirate’s position as a preeminent organiser and leading name for sporting activities.”Al Qaseer confirmed that those taking part in tomorrow’s Urban Ultra X-Tri Cross Country Triathlon comprise individual athletes as well as professional teams He stressed that the extraordinary efforts in organising the event will ensure its success and lead to a spreading of awareness about the race itself and other similar activities taking place in Sharjah and the UAE.
Commenting on the unique components of the triathlon, which puts competitors in touch with nature as they travel the course, Pascal de Jong, Course Director at Urban Ultra, said; “The Urban-Ultra X-Tri Cross Country triathlon occupies a special place as a sporting event in the UAE. Not only does it test the physical endurance of the participating athletes in three separate disciplines, it also enables them to experience the great outdoors. Athletes, sport enthusiasts and nature lovers will be able to take in Kalba’s wonderful backdrop as they have fun competing against each other in the three stages of the event; swimming, mountain biking and trail running. The race is a wonderful addition to the UAE’s sporting landscape.”
About Shurooq:
The Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq) is the driving force behind the transformation of Sharjah into an investment, tourist and business destination. Shurooq also works dedicatedly to evaluate and follow-up on tourism, investment, and heritage-related infrastructure projects, as well as to contribute to the comprehensive development in the emirate. It provides facilities related to investment activity in collaboration with other bodies and organisations through the setting up of a comprehensive information centre that highlights investment opportunities in the emirate of Sharjah.