Emirates News Agency – Khalid bin Mohammed bin Zayed attends inaugural Abu Dhabi Cycling Festival

ABU DHABI, 10th November, 2022 (WAM) — His Excellency Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Member of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council and Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Office, today Attended the inaugural Cycling Abu Dhabi Festival held in Abu Dhabi’s Corniche Abu Dhabi.
During his visit, His Highness met with the President of the International Cycling Union (UCI), David Lappartient, and witnessed the fifth UCI Urban Cycling World Championships, which consisted of three races, for the first time in the region. Projects: BMX Freestyle Park (starting at Tokyo 2020), and BMX Freestyle Flats and Trials.
His Highness was accompanied by Dr. Mugheer Khamis Al Khaili, Chairman of the Ministry of Community Development; and Aref Hamad Al Awani, Secretary General of the Abu Dhabi Sports Council.
The week-long Abu Dhabi Cycling Festival, sponsored by His Highness Sheikh Khaled bin Mohammed bin Zayed and organised by the Abu Dhabi Sports Council, brings 300 of the world’s top urban cyclists to Abu Dhabi .
The UAE will host two world-class cycling events: the UCI Urban Cycling World Championships; on November 12, 500 amateur athletes will compete on a 150-kilometer circuit from Abu Dhabi to Al Ain to compete for a Dh2 million prize.
The festival is the latest initiative under the Bike Abu Dhabi platform, launched by Sheikh Khaled in November 2021 to lead the emirate’s long-term ambition to become a leading global cycling hub.
Under the platform, the emirate’s infrastructure will be significantly improved, including the expansion of the emirate’s 300km cycling network to over 1,000km, and the 109km Abu Dhabi Ring Road – a segregation linking major destinations across the city Bicycle lanes that further enhance mobility and encourage communities to engage in healthy lifestyles and use of safe and sustainable transportation.
Plans have also been drawn up to build the Velodrome Hudayriyat, a 3,500-square-meter arena that will provide additional opportunities to host high-profile international and local cycling events.
Since the launch of Bike Abu Dhabi, other new infrastructure on Hudayriyat Island includes the headquarters of the Abu Dhabi Cycling Club, which continues to promote cycling and organise competitions at all levels; and two major bike suppliers, Wolfi’s Bike Shop and Colnago.
The launch of the Bike Abu Dhabi platform comes as the emirate has been awarded the prestigious “Bike City Label” by the UCI in 2021, in recognition of Abu Dhabi’s efforts to promote cycling and expand cycling infrastructure and programmes.
In addition to the Abu Dhabi Cycling Festival, Abu Dhabi will host another UCI Urban Cycling World Championship in 2024, as well as the UCI Gryffindor World Championships in 2028.