A new season of cycle sport is almost upon us, with several events planned for September and the start of October. It’s time to dust off your race kit, submit your QCTF membership and start planning the year ahead. We will be organising a minimum of twenty-four road, mountainbike and triathlon races, plus we’ll be heavily involved in the success of major events like the Al Adaid Desert Challenge, Ride of Champions mass ride and next month’s World Beach Games.

TriClub Doha will open proceedings on the 14th September with their annual open day at the Al Jewan Hall details here. This meet & greet occasion will have experts on hand to advise and answer your questions – particularly ideal if you are new to the sport, planning to make first steps into an open water event, or thinking about stepping up to a longer distance. Your first opportunities to actually race will come on the 11th and 18th September with, respectively, an aquathon and triathlon at Qatar Foundation. Both of those have pool swims –  but to take advantage of Qatar’s beautiful ocean waters, you’ll need to wait until November for the first Qatar Triathlon Series event of the year.

Triclub will be accepting membership applications and this will also be your first opportunity to get your QCTF membership card outside of office hours. You’ll need that QCTF membership if you plan to take advantage of reduced entry fees at the first road race – the night criterium on 23rd September.

We are pleased to welcome Royal Air Maroc back as title sponsor of our road racing league for the third year running. The first of those races takes place on the 4th October on the TBA course. Road racing in Qatar remains accessible for any moderately fit cyclists who are experienced in riding in a group. Perhaps this will be the year you’ll give it a try?

Off-road fans will eagerly await the start of the mountain bike league in October but, before then, United Filipino Mountain Bikers (UFMBQ) will welcome you to their own season opener: a social off-road ride for all abilities. Of course, this being a Filipino-run event, it is as much about the food as it is about the cycling so bring something to share at the pot-luck breakfast following the ride.

At this time of year, Qatar’s cycling and multi-sport communities look forward to the coming of the cooler temperatures, heralding the start of a new racing season. At QCTF we are hearing about many exciting events, including those which haven’t yet made it onto the year planner. Now is the time to get set – there are just a few weeks left to wait!

• Year planner
• Events list