On Tuesday the Abu Dhabi Government and the Union Cycliste International announced the 2028 UCI Gran Fondo World Championships will take place in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
The official Abu Dhabi Government announcement stated, “Abu Dhabi was announced as the host venue for the 2022 and 2024 UCI Urban Cycling World Championships and the 2028 UCI Gran Fondo World Championships.”
UCI Director General Amina Lanaya add via Twitter, “The UCI Urban Cycling & Gran Fondo World Championships taking place in this beautiful city will be a phenomenal experience!”
The news follows the UAE’s continued commitment to further promote cycling at all levels, from sponsoring the WorldTour UAE Team Emirates of Tour de France champion Tadej Pogačar, organizing the UAE Tour, developing a 109 kilometre Abu Dhabi “Cycling For All” closed loop and building a new track racing velodrome on Hudayriyat Island.
The last UCI Gran Fondo World Championship qualifying event to take place in the UAE was Spinneys Dubai 92 Cycle Challenge in 2020, won by Russian amateur Bojan Durdicwhich from a field of 2500 riders.
Other upcoming host cities for the UCI Gran Fondo World Champonships include Trento-Italy 2022, Glasgow-Scotland 2023, Aalborg-Denmark 2024, Melbourne-Australia 2025 and Victoriaville-Canada 2026.
PHOTOS: GFDN
GRAN FONDO DAILY NEWS 