By JACOB KANTER
Israel is ramping up its efforts to formally enter the world of international cycling with Tiberias hosting the country's first-ever Golden Ring cycling event on Friday.
Over 1,000 riders are scheduled to participate in the Golden Ring, which is being run as a side event under the framework of Union Cycliste Internationale's Golden Bike series.
"We're trying to get into the Golden Bike, we're not quite there yet," said Yaron Michaeli, a spokesperson for the event.
"We'll have a Golden Bike representative there to show him that Israel is ready to be part of the Golden Bike series."
Israel is vying to join Belgium, Italy, Spain, France, Switzerland, South Africa and New Zealand in the Golden Bike series, which foregoes competition in its events in order to open up cycling to as many people and geographic regions as possible.
The Golden Ring will feature four tracks combining both road and off-road cycling, at distances of 20, 35, 60, and 90 kilometers.
Shahar Zubari, bronze medalist in windsurfing at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, will take part on Friday, a day after competing in the 10-kilometer race as part of the Tiberias marathon.
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