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3rd edition of Bike Abu Dhabi Gran Fondo announced in the UAE

Abu Dhabi Sports Council has announced the third Bike Abu Dhabi Gran Fondo will be held on November 16, 2024. The cycling racecourse consists of a 150 km route, beginning in Abu Dhabi and ending in Al Ain

$540,000 prize purse for Abu Dhabi Gran Fondo winners

The total prize pool for the race’s third edition amounts to AED 2 million, making it one of the most prominent sports events in the UAE and supporting Abu Dhabi’s efforts in organising world-class cycling events. The race also highlights the importance of cycling and its role in improving the general health of the population, due the participation of hundreds of enthusiasts.
 
The Gran Fondo Abu Dhabi is the world’s largest one-day amateur prize list, AED 2,000,000 ($540,000 USD) for amatuer Gran Fondo riders across six age categories equally split between men and women. Professional riders are not eligible for the cash prizes and are to be removed from the results.

Aref Hamad Al Awani, General Secretary of the Abu Dhabi Sports Council, said: “The third edition of the Bike Abu Dhabi Gran Fondo provides a distinguished experience for cycling fans, as it brings together both amateur and professional cyclists on a long track that passes through different areas in Abu Dhabi.”

Al Awani added that since its launch in 2022, the Bike Abu Dhabi Gran Fondo has experienced great community participation from a range of cyclists, both male and female, with the number of participants in the last edition in 2023 reaching 1,200, represented by 75 nationalities residing within and outside the UAE.

Al Awani added: “The Bike Abu Dhabi Gran Fondo is not only a race, but rather a celebration of cycling and the unity of society, and its ultimate goal is to encourage the maintaining of physical fitness, following a healthy lifestyle, and improving the quality of life of society.”

Bike Abu Dhabi is an initiative launched by the Abu Dhabi Government with the aim of unifying efforts to achieve the emirate’s long-term goals of consolidating its global position in the field of cycling, as it is an activity that combines mobility, health, entertainment and sports.

Abu Dhabi to host 2028 UCI Gran Fondo World Championships

Abu Dhabi hailed a 'UCI Bike City' and unveils new 109km Loop and velodrome.

Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed, member of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council and Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Office, has accepted the prestigious “Bike City” label from the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI). 

The city is the first destination in Asia to receive the distinction. Other towns with the status include Bergen in Norway; Copenhagen, the Danish capital; Glasgow in Scotland; and the French capital of Paris.

The UCI is the world governing body for sport cycling and the categorisation recognises Abu Dhabi’s efforts to promote cycling, said Sheikh Khaled.

“Through visionary thinking, the emirate has developed state-of-the-art sport and community facilities that help enhance Abu Dhabi’s position as one of the world’s most liveable cities,” he said.

“This exciting new chapter for the emirate will see Abu Dhabi achieve even greater heights in its work to drive sustainability across all areas of life, to advance dynamic urban development and to create as many opportunities as possible for people to live healthy, active lives.”

In tandem with the award ceremony on Tuesday, Abu Dhabi also announced a series of new measures and facilities to encourage more people to take up cycling.

Planned infrastructure projects include a new 109-kilometre designated cycling track called the Abu Dhabi Loop and a 3,500-seat velodrome, called the Velodrome Hudayriyat, to be built on Hudayriyat Island.

The Loop will be a segregated cycleway linking key destinations around the city and the 12,000-square-metre velodrome will offer track racing.

In total, the emirate plans to extend its current 300km cycling network to more than 1,000km.

UCI Gran Fondo World Series Championships Hosts

The UCI Gran Fondo World Championships are held every year at the end of the series.

  2024 UCI Gran Fondo World Championships - Aalborg, Demark (August 29 - September 1, 2024).

  2025 UCI Gran Fondo World Championships - Melbourne, Australia (October 17–19, 2025).

  2026 UCI Gran Fondo World Championships - Hokkaido, Japan (August 26 - 30, 2026).

  2027 UCI Gran Fondo World Championships - TBD

  2028 UCI Gran Fondo World Championships - Abu Dhabi, UAE

For more information, please visit: https://bike.abudhabi