They are Oussama Khafi, Nasreddine Matouki, Mounir Makhshon, Mohamed Saoud, Ibrahim Sabahi and Imad Sakak. The Nationals will be coached by Mouhssine Lahsaini, former winner of the 2011 Tour of Morocco.
Morocco is participating in this event alongside 25 teams from 19 countries, namely the Emirates (host country), Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman, Iraq, Syria, Algeria, Bahrain, Azerbaijan, Greece, France, Malaysia, Uzbekistan, Indonesia, Japan, Philippines, Kazakhstan and Rwanda.
Participants will race approximately 440 km in five stages. The competition begins with an individual time trial at the cornice of Mamzar over a distance of 8.9 km.
The Moroccan riders have spent a two-week training period in Beni Mellal (Central Morocco). The Moroccan bike takes part, since Monday, the 16th Tour of Gabon (Tropicale Amisa Bongo). This will be followed by two participations in the Tours du Sahel in Mauritania, and that of Rwanda.
The Nationals will participate, then, in the African championship, which will take place in the Ghanaian capital, Accra from 8 to 13 February. The goal is to collect the maximum number of points and qualify for the World Championships to be held from 3 to 13 August 2023 in Glasgow, and for the Olympic Games (Paris 2024).
