Last weekend in Belgium two Palestinian cyclists that barely escaped from war-torn Gaza last year qualified for the 2025 UCI Para-Cycling Road World Championships, according to Isaac Muk at Huck magazine.

As Gran Fondo Daily previously reported, Mohammed Asfour escaped from Gaza last year and joined Sunbirds teammate Alaa al-Dali to compete in Para-Cycling World Championship qualifying races in Belgium – while the rest of the team remained in Gaza delivering life-saving aid to men, women and children.

In Belgium the amputee para-cyclists representing Palestine qualified for the world championships, with al-Dali finishing 20th in the Men’s C2 Individual Time Trail and 19th in the Road Race, while Asfour finished 20th and 21st respectively.

Now the pair have their sights set on competing at the world championships 28-31 August 2025 in Ronse, Belgium, where they will proudly race in the red, black, white and green colors of Palestine.

Co-founder of the Gaza Sunbirds, al-Dali established the team in 2020 to provide training, support and equipment for disabled cyclists, now numbering 19, in Gaza who reportedly sustained life-changing injuries and amputations at the hands of the Israeli military.

Photo Credit: Gaza Sunbirds

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