The 4th edition of Abu Dhabi Gran Fondo in the United Arab Emirates will once again offer the biggest and richest one day cash prize payout of any amateur cycling race – ever.

On Sunday 21 December 2025 at 06:30 amateur cyclists will start racing for over $500,000 USD (AED 2,000,000) in cash prizes on a point-to-point 150 kilometer dead flat desert route from Al Ain to Abu Dhabi. The generous prize list offers equal cash payouts for men and women overall, age categories plus teams.

With a payout equal to a king’s ransom at stake, organizers will be on the lookout for would-be dopers and enforcing World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) regulations. Plus, if a competitor tests positive during the anti-doping controls carried out at the event, or in case of being tested positive in the 6 months following it, the organization reserves the right to ask for the compensation from the participant of AED 200,000 to cover the damages to the image of the event.

Also, pros will not be allowed to compete. The rules state riders who have been registered as a professional on a UCI WorldTour team, UCI Women WorldTour team or UCI Proteam, including the two years following their last season as professionals, are admitted to participate exclusively for promotional purposes and will be released in the final start group in order to not effect race standings. They will not be able to participate in any way in the ranking or be eligible for prize money.

Abu Dhabi Gran Fondo details HERE

Photo Credit: Abu Dhabi Gran Fondo

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