Tartous, Aug. 2 (SANA)Syria’s NationalCyclingChampionship opened in the coastal city ofTartouson Saturday, bringing together riders from eight provinces in a competition aimed at developing the sport and identifying talent for future national teams.

The event, organized by the Syrian Cycling Federation in cooperation with the Tartous Directorate of Sports and Youth, featured about 70 male and female cyclists competing across multiple age categories. Participants represented Damascus, Damascus Countryside, Daraa, Quneitra, Homs, Hama, Aleppo and Deir Ezzor.Maher Salim, head of the Cycling Federation at theMinistry of Sports and Youth, said the championship is the federation’s first competition of the year and serves as part of preparations for the upcoming Arab Cycling Championship.He said Syria is using an electronic timing system for the first time in a national cycling event, describing it as a step toward aligning domestic competitions with international standards.Salim said Tartous was selected to host the championship because of its established cycling community and its capacity to accommodate athletes from across the country.

He added that the event is being held in cooperation with the Ministries of Tourism and Interior in support of the “Syria Without Drugs” campaign, highlighting the role of sport in promoting healthy lifestyles and raising awareness among young people.Rami al-Khatib, head of the Tartous Cycling Technical Committee, said the championship provides riders with an opportunity to test themselves ahead of future competitions while helping expand the sport’s popularity in the province.He said organizers prepared the race course despite challenges posed by traffic and high temperatures.Zeinab Bilal, a member of the Syrian Cycling Federation, said cooperation among local authorities had contributed to the successful staging of the championship and would help encourage broader participation in cycling.

Raghad Mohammad Madi, a rider representing Latakia, said domestic championships motivate athletes to improve their performance and maintain their training.Yousef Sarouji, a cyclist with Barda Club and the Syrian national team, said regular national competitions are essential for maintaining riders’ competitive readiness ahead of international events, particularly the upcoming Arab Championship.