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UCI CYCLING GALA TO REWARD WORLD’S BEST ELITE MEN AND WOMEN ROAD CYCLISTS

The inaugural UCI Cycling Gala, hosted by the Abu Dhabi Sports Council and the United Arab Emirates Cycling Federation, will also recognise the new holders of the Men's and Women’s UCI Hour Records.

Abu Dhabi, 30 September 2015 – The first UCI Cycling Gala, marking the end of the UCI professional road cycling season, will be held in Abu Dhabi on October 11. The festivities will take place at the Yas Marina Island “du Forum” concert venue on the evening of the final stage of the inaugural Abu Dhabi Tour, a four-day stage race on the UCI Asia Tour calendar.

During the evening of celebration, awards will be presented to athletes who have distinguished themselves throughout the season in, among others, the UCI WorldTour, the UCI Women's Road World Cup, the three Grand Tours and the UCI Road World Championships. Among special awards will be one for fair play and two for the new holders of the Men's and Women’s UCI Hour Records.

UCI President Brian Cookson said the UCI Cycling Gala would be a fitting end to an exciting road season: “From shoulder to shoulder sprints to the finish line to courageous solo break-away moves, the riders have kept us on the edge of our seats throughout the year. The UCI Cycling Gala is our way of thanking and rewarding them for their amazing performances. I am thrilled that the Abu Dhabi Sports Council and the United Arab Emirates Cycling Federation have undertaken to host this gala in conjunction with their new Abu Dhabi Tour.”

Mr Aref Hamad Al Awani, General Secretary of Abu Dhabi Sports Council, said: “Abu Dhabi is ready to show off all its assets. The goal is for all to enjoy a hard fought and well organised race, and to celebrate our efforts with an unforgettable UCI Cycling Gala.”

The awards categories

Winner of the UCI WorldTour Individual Classification
2nd in the UCI WorldTour Individual Classification
3rd in the UCI WorldTour Individual Classification

Winner of the UCI WorldTour Team Classification
Winner of the UCI WorldTour Classification by Nation

Men’s Elite UCI Road Race World Champion
Women’s Elite UCI Road Race World Champion
Men’s Elite UCI Individual Time Trial World Champion
Women’s Elite UCI Individual Time Trial Champion
Men’s Elite UCI Team Time Trial Champions
Women’s Elite UCI Team Time Trial Champions

Winner of the UCI Women's Road World Cup

Men’s UCI Hour Record Holder
Women’s UCI Hour Record Holder
Fair Play

Giro d’Italia Winner
Tour de France Winner
Vuelta a España Winner
 
SPECIAL RECOGNITION
Abu Dhabi Tour Winner

 

#RideToAbuDhabi
The Abu Dhabi Tour, organised by the Abu Dhabi Sports Council in collaboration with RCS Sport, will take place from 8 to 11 October. It consists of four stages covering a total distance of 555km; three stages favour the sprinters, while the remaining stage (the 3rd), finishing uphill after a 750m climb with gradients touching 12%, will probably decide the General Classification.

ROUTE INFORMATION
Stage 1 – The ADNOC Stage (174km): The entire stage takes place in the stunning Rub al Khali desert, part of Abu Dhabi’s Western Region. Starting among the red sand dunes that surround the beautiful Qasr Al Sarab Resort, the undulating race route accrues around 1,200m of vertical climbing. The riders will trace a ring around Liwa and the nearby oasis, passing through the town twice. The riders then head north along straight roads for 55km, with the slightest of downhill gradients, as far as the town of Madinat Zayed. After the first crossing of the finish line, the peloton then enters a final 15km loop, to be ridden just once. A mass sprint is expected, although the desert winds could influence the outcome.

Stage 2 – The Capital Stage (129km): A flat stage across the city, starting at the Yas Marina Circuit and heading towards the southern part of the city along wide and mostly straight roads. After the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque and the Exhibition Hall, the peloton turns back on itself, returning to Yas Island, then follows the Corniche until the Emirates Palace. There the riders will face a U-turn, cycling again alongside the Corniche until Yas Island, where the finish line is positioned next to the Yas Mall. Again, a mass sprint is expected.

Stage 3 – The Al Ain Stage (142km): The toughest stage of the inaugural Abu Dhabi Tour. Starting from Al Qattara Souq, the first 33km follow a series of broad, straight roads, then the peloton will trace a wide circle around the city, crossing the Green Mubazzarah oasis before starting the final climb. 11km long, the Jebel Hafeet ascent reaches an altitude of 1,000m on gradients that average 7.5% and touch 12% on the lower slopes. The climb, on wide, well surfaced roads and with long, sweeping bends, eases into a short descent with 1.5km to go, before resuming a shallow climb to the finish line. The final climb will, in all probability, decide the General Classification.

Stage 4 – The Yas Stage (110km): The entire stage takes place at night on the Yas Marina Circuit. 110km at night under the floodlights of the F1 Circuit. The peloton will complete 20 laps (5.5km each) culminating in the last Abu Dhabi Tour sprint. The circuit is wide and the surface is in impeccable condition.


Links: Abu Dhabi Tour downloads site for all content


 

SHIFT Active Media
Manolo Bertocchi

 
RCS Sport Cycling Press Office
Ph.: (+44) 1225 448333
Ph. (+44) 7979 241227
E-mail: manolo@shiftactivemedia.com
Tw.: @Shiftactive @ItalianManolo

RCS Sport
Stefano Diciatteo

 
RCS Sport Press Office Coordinator
Ph.: (+39) 02 25848758
Mob.: (+39) 335 5468466
E-mail: Stefano.diciatteo@rcs.it
Tw.: @rcssport - @stedicia

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