A young Syrian rider, who fled worn-torn Aleppo when he was aged 15 years, has said he was sorry he started the U23 TT at the Worlds after officials banned his TT bike.
Manar Rayes (21) decided to take to the start line on his regular road bike and went on to finish last, more than nine minutes down. When his bike was examined before the start today his handlebars were found to be in breach of regulations.
He was unable to get a new set-up organised, for lack of mechanical
support at the event. And while he considered cutting 3cms off his bars, he was
advised not to.
It meant he started the 30.3km TT on a regular road bike and, given his result, he said he was now sorry he started.
Advertisement
“I didn’t expect that at all. The measurements had been set exactly right in advance by Trek Bicycle Utrecht, who had made the bike available to me for this race,” he said after the race.
Related News
“I knew it wouldn’t go well on my regular bike, also because of the wind. I now regret that I started. Everyone sees the result and thinks it’s my level. I am angry and also very disappointed.”
[banners_ad id=136] |
In 2013 Rayes had already impressed the cycling authorities in Syria enough to make it into the national team set-up and went to its base in Damascus to live.
However, in 2013 when Aleppo was bombed he was soon forced to move back there to his family because of the impact of the war on the national team.
Rayes was introduced to cycling in Syria by his father and even when the war broke out there he continued to train on an outdoor velodrome in Aleppo.
He has said that many times while he was training he could hear soldiers firing their guns from the building next to the track, though he persisted with his riding.
He finally fled the country with his family when he was aged 15 years. He now mixes his cycling with his studies and lives in Utrecht in the Netherlands.
Topics
