RIYADH — The capital Riyadh is scheduled on Friday to host a bicycle race for women to be organized by Saudi Cycling Federation as part of its 2021 calendar for local sports season. The 15-kilometer individual time trial race, designated for female citizens, will start at 3 p.m. from Gate 5 of Princess Nourah Bint Abdulrahman University on the street leading to King Khalid International Airport. Princess Mashael Bint Faisal, head of the women committee at the federation, said that the race is an effective step toward empowering women to practice cycling and a first step for them to be professional cyclists in the future, especially that this type of races helps enhance the skills of cyclists. Princess Mashael stressed that Saudi Cycling Federation spares no effort in supporting this activity and spreading it among Saudi women, adding that the federation will continue its support and encouragement to practice this sport, citing the federation"s formation of the women empowerment committee. Princess Mashael also expressed appreciation and gratitude for Minister of Sports Prince Abdulaziz Bin Turki Al-Faisal for his sincere efforts to support sports in general, particularly cycling.