Egypt is hosting on Saturday for the first time ever the 2018 African Mountain Bike continental Championship at the Wadi Degla Protectorate with the participation of 16 African countries, state news Al-Ahram reports.
For two consecutive days, bikers all the way from South Africa, Kenya, Botswana, Tunisia, Côte d’Ivoire, Lesotho, Namibia, Morocco, Mauritius, Niger, Zimbabwe and Burkina Faso will be competing at the Degla mountains in Maadi, challenging their agility and fitness under the auspices of Egypt’s Ministry of Youth and Environment.
The Ministry has recently completed the preparation of the mountain slopes at the protectorate, equipping the path with necessary signage, maps, and routes to facilitate the ride for the bikers, Khaled Fahmy, Egypt’s Minister of Environment said.
The event will be attended by Fahmy, Wagih Azzam, President of the African Union and David Labartian, President of the International Cycling Union.
Mountain biking is the sport of riding bicycles off-road, often over rough terrain, using specially designed mountain bikes. Mountain bikes share similarities with other bikes but incorporate features designed to enhance durability and performance in rough terrain.
Fahmy added that the location of the championship was chosen to be hosted at the Wadi Degla protectorate, which receives more than 60,000 visitors per year, as it is a known destination for sports fanatics, and lovers of adventure and nature.
“This has prompted the Ministry of Environment to develop the reserve and focus on the development of visitor services and infrastructure for an overall exciting experience,” he added.
Ibrahim Yasser, a mountain biker for the past three years, said that the location chosen by Egypt is “the most perfect and suitable destination for such a sport.”
“Mountain biking needs stamina and strength. What better place to compete, being surrounded by Egypt’s mesmerizing nature is there,” he added.
