Today's Edition
ABU DHABI (ALETIHAD)
The fourth edition of the Bike Abu Dhabi Gran Fondo attracted more than 1,000 cyclists, who completed the 150-kilometre race and competed for a total prize money of Dh2 million.
One of the UAE’s premier sporting events, the race brings together amateur and professional cyclists alike. It commenced at Hazza bin Zayed Stadium in Al Ain and concluded at the Sheikh Zayed Festival in Al Wathba, which hosts a wide range of cultural and heritage activities highlighting the UAE’s rich traditions.
The race started at 7am, with participants representing 68 nationalities. The first group included professional men’s and women’s riders as well as registered teams, while the remaining participants were divided into groups based on their average speeds.
At the conclusion of the race, Ukrainian cyclist Serhii Sydor of Al Wathba team claimed first place in the overall men’s classification, completing the 150km distance in two hours, 57 minutes and 30 seconds. Dutch rider Cornelis Vermeltfoort finished second, just one second behind, while Russia’s Anton Popov secured third place by fractions of a second.
In the overall women’s category, Dutch cyclist Nina Kessler claimed the title after finishing in 2:57.37s, followed by Nora Jenčušová of Slovakia in second place, and Yona Vandamme of the Netherlands in third.
In the UAE Nationals men’s category, Abdullah Al Hammadi of Abu Dhabi Cycling Club secured first place with a time of 2:57.33s. Salem Al Shmeili of Dubai Police Team finished second, while Ahmed Al Mansoori took third place.
In the women’s category, Marwa Salman of MyWhoosh Team claimed first place with a time of three hours, 31 minutes and 14 seconds. Her MyWhoosh teammates Noura Al Ghafli and Aisha Foulad, also from My Whoosh Team, came second and third, respectively.
In the team competitions, Dubai Police Team claimed first place in the men’s category, followed by Shabab Al Ahli Dubai in second and Abu Dhabi Cycling Club in third. In the women’s teams category, Dubai Police Team finished first, followed by Dubai Residency Team in second and Astro Falcon Team in third.
The race was officially flagged off by Sheikh Hamdan bin Sultan bin Hamdan Al Nahyan, Director of the International Events Department at the Abu Dhabi Sports Council, with officials of the UAE Cycling Federation, Abu Dhabi Sports Council (ADSC) and Abu Dhabi Cycling Club present. Sheikh Hamdan bin Sultan also attended the awards ceremony along with other officials from stakeholders and sponsor partners.
Expressing his pride in the event’s success, Aref Al Awani, the ADSC Secretary-General, said, “For the fourth consecutive year, Bike Abu Dhabi Gran Fondo has achieved remarkable success with participation from 68 nationalities, reflecting our commitment to community engagement and the development of cycling in the UAE and the region.”
He added that the event continues to serve as a key driver in positioning Abu Dhabi as a leading global destination for cycling, combining competitive racing with broad participation from amateurs and professionals.
The ADSC placed strong emphasis on safety standards, deploying specialised medical teams along the route, in addition to comprehensive technical support, including assistance vehicles, emergency response units and transport services, ensuring rapid response to cyclists’ needs.
The fourth edition had a Race Village at the Sheikh Zayed Festival in Al Wathba, offering fan engagement activities, rest areas for riders, family-friendly spaces, and dedicated zones for exhibitors and event partners, delivering a fully integrated experience for visitors and participants.
Abu Dhabi Sports Channel provided live television coverage of the race, including a dedicated analytical studio before, during and after the event, along with on-ground reporting and comprehensive coverage of all race categories and results.
