On Sunday 21 December for the 4th year in a row Abu Dhabi Gran Fondo in the United Arab Emirates host the world’s richest one-day cycling race.

Ukrainian Serhii Sydor (ALWATHBA MAXFIT) took home what must feel like a king’s ransom after claiming overall victory in the $550,000 USD (AED 2 million) total prize purse race.

On a desert flat 150km route from Al Ain to Abu-Dhabi, the 23 year-old two-time men’s Ukrainian Road Race Champion won a 60-up field sprint to take the win in 2:57:30. Cornelis Vermeltfoort of the Netherlands was next, followed by the Russian Anton Popov.

23 year-old Slovakian Nora Jencsova (DUBAI POLICE) won the women’s competition in 2:57:42, followed closely by Yonna Van Dam of the Netherlands and Alina Abramenka of Bulgaria.

2025 Abu Dhabi Gran Fondo champions Sydor and Jencsova each took home winner’s checks for approximately $30,000 USD, with both men’s and women’s prize lists paying 20 riders deep.

UCI EF Education – Oatly Proteam rider Nina Kessler, 37, was the first woman to cross the finish line, but results list her as DSQ (disqualified). Race 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.”

Complete Gran Fondo Abu Dhabi results HERE

Photo Credit: Facebook/BikeAbuDhabi

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