The Arab Cycling Championship has returned to Syria after a 19-year hiatus, hosting cyclists from 14 Arab countries in a week-long competition centered in Damascus. The event began Sunday and is scheduled to run through October 10, featuring a range of races including men’s, women’s, youth, junior, and para-cycling categories.

The championship opened with individual road races in Yaafour, a suburb of Damascus. The competition involves multiple race formats held on different courses in and around the capital. Para-cyclists and younger participants are set to cover distances of 25 kilometers, while youth competitors will race over 50 kilometers, according to Maher Salim, president of the Syrian Cycling Federation.

Following the initial road races, individual time trials are planned for Monday at the Al-Bajaa course, with distances varying by category: 15 km and 25 km, alongside a 50-kilometer para-cycling event. Tuesday's program features 50-kilometer road races for younger cyclists, while Wednesday includes a 25-kilometer mixed team race and the youth road race.

Thursday will see team time trials, with men’s teams covering 50 kilometers and women’s teams competing over 25 kilometers. On Friday, both men and women will participate in 25-kilometer individual time trials. The championships conclude on October 10 with a 50-kilometer women’s road race and the men’s road race following the Damascus-Saboura-Damascus route.

Salim highlighted the diversity of the courses as giving the event a distinct character and expressed hope that the championship would demonstrate Syria’s organizational capabilities as well as encourage broader Arab engagement in the sport. Damascus last hosted the Arab Cycling Championship in 2007.