Moderately tough parcours in store for our riders from the 'West Asia' region. Four titles will be decided for the following nations and riders: Qatar: Tareq Esmaeli and Ahmed Albourdainy
Uzbechistan: Muradjan Khalmuratov and Sergei Lagutin
Iran: Mahdi Sohrabi Far Saeed Navid Hossaini Reza Owen Fabbro Filipe Cappannari Indalecio Lagrou Rudolf Zhilenko Manuel Palumbo
Israel Ran Margaliot Amotz Nehoray Maxim Burlutsky Daniel Eliad Dor Dviri Idan Shapira
Just the one Protour rider, but these regions certainly have been helped out by the opening up of the second division.
We may recall the Israeli's as part of the El-Al cycling outfit in 2011, in some ways it is just as heartening to see them now in multi-national squads.
Qatar of course famous for hosting the Protour stage race has seen the climbing talents of Esmaeli and also occasionally Albourdainy. Meanwhile the relatively poor region of Uzbechistan has two genuine sport personailities in Lagutin and Khalmuratov, both riders good on all terrain and against the clock.
Iran are hoping for someone to pick up their seen to be free agent riders from webeffect, perhaps Armavia will step forward certainly they have been beneficial for the development of that nations riders.
In terms of the racing we got a rather sedate affair in the road race with three riders getting away early on in Zhilenko, Albourdainy and Nehoray.
With 50km left these three have a 22 minute lead, so it safe to say each has secured their national championships. Just Uzbeck left to decide and Lagutin tries to attack near the top of the long draggy climb.
His problem is that the other riders decide that they may as well race the last 50km helping Khalmuratov back to his rival. Back at the finish Albourdainy has tried to break away only to be chased back, in the end it is 21 year olf Nehoray who takes a nice win for his burgeoning career.
Zhilenko wins the Irani national title, with Albourdainy netting the Qatari crown. Back with the rest we have eight riders together including Khalmuratov and Lagutin.
But Lagutin just wants it more as he follow Protour rider Margalloit to the line to grab the Uzbeck title.
Qatar: 
Uzbechistan: 
Iran: 
Israel
