The Dubai Gran Fondo will see amateur cyclists competing in the first ever UCI World Cycling Tour event to be held in the Emirate over the weekend.
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The 130km road race will start and finish at the purpose-built Al Qudra Cycle Park tomorrow morning (Friday). It will be the third event in this year’s UCI World Cycling Tour, which consists of 13 qualifying events for the UCI World Amateur Road Championships to be held in Denmark in September.
The first two events took place last year in Australia and South Africa, attracting 5,000 and 10,000 cyclists, respectively. Now in the fifth season of the Tour, Dubai hosts the third leg as the sport continues to rise in profile in the region.
“One of the aims of this tour is the global promotion of ‘Cycling for All’, and with cycling in the UAE becoming so popular, we are pleased to be bringing this event to the Middle East for the first time,” Donal Kilalea of organisers Promoseven Sports Marketing said.
Here is the updated #DGF2015 route. #Infotweet pic.twitter.com/Mu1OjR6gZX
— Dubai Gran Fondo (@DubaiGranFondo) March 16, 2015
“Dubai’s cycling calendar is expanding rapidly, and the addition of this event is an important step in the development of cycling in Dubai.
“We have so many keen amateur and masters cyclists here, and now they have an opportunity to represent their countries on the world stage.
“This event will further give amateur local cyclists the opportunity to compete in an international UCI event, and attract international amateur cyclists to Dubai.”
The race is divided into eight age groups: 19-34, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, 60-64 and 65- plus. The top 25 per cent finishers in each group will qualify for the World Championships.
