Two Palestinian para-cyclists who lost legs to Israeli snipers and escaped from Gaza last year reached a milestone this past weekend, representing the State of Palestine at the 2025 UCI Para-Cycling Road World Championship in Ronse, Belgium.

To the cheers and support of Belgian fans, Gaza Sunbirds teammates Mohammed Asfour and Alaa al-Dali proudly wore the red, black, white and green Palastine flag colors on their jerseys in the Men’s C2 Individual Time Trial and Road Race.

It was a somber experience filled with mixed emotions for the pair while family, friends and teammates face famine, death and an uncertain future in what the world’s leading experts now say is genocide in Gaza.

On Friday in the 23.2km Men’s C2 Individual Time Trial Alaa al-Dali, 28, finished 17th in 41:05, while Mohammad Asfour, 25, unfortunately dropped out and did not finish. Alexandre Leaute, 25, of France earned the gold medal.

Sunday’s 61.6km Road Race saw Leaute win a second gold medal, with al-Dali and Asfour finishing together in 16th and 17th place respectively.

Back in Gaza the rest of the Sunbirds team spent the weekend delivering life-saving aid to Palestinians, just as they have done for almost 2 years.

Although their former training roads in Gaza have been obliterated by Israeli Defense Forces and their bikes destroyed, al-Dali, Asfour and the rest of the Sunbirds have not given up hope of the para-cycling team once again riding together. “We’re going to build stationary bikes in Gaza. We’re not going to wait for the roads to be rebuilt or for the bikes to be brought in. We’ll get spare parts and create stationary bikes,” Sunbirds co-founder Karim Ali told AP News. “Our dream in the future is to start a school in Gaza where people can learn about cycling and reconnecting with their bodies.”

Complete UCI Para Cycling World Championship results HERE

Photo Credit: Fred Debrock

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