The third edition of the Bike Abu Dhabi Gran Fondo attracted more than 1,000 cyclists, who took on the 150km course to compete for a share of the total prize pool of AED2 million.

The event is one of the most prominent sporting events in the UAE, bringing together amateurs and professionals. The race started from the Sheikh Zayed Festival in Al Wathba, which hosts various events and activities that highlight the UAE’s rich heritage, and ended in Al Ain City at the Al Ain Cycling Track, a destination that welcomes cycling enthusiasts around the clock.

The race began at 6am, with the participation of cyclists representing more than 70 nationalities. The competition witnessed the start of the first group dedicated to Elite Men and Women, in addition to teams, while the rest of the participants were divided into groups based on their average speeds.

At the end of the race, Grega Bole from the Shabab Al Ahli team was crowned the champion of the Elite Men’s category, while Olivija Baleisyte from the Dubai Police team won the Elite Women’s.

In the UAE Citizens' Men’s category, Abdullah Al Hammadi came in first place, Jaber Al Mansoori finished second, and Farouk Mahmoud secured third. In the Women’s category, Sheikha Madiya Al Maktoum came in first place, Ghaya Al Mehrzi second, and Marwa Kahwar third. 

In the team competitions, the Shabab Al Ahli Club team won first place in the Men's category, the Dubai Police team came in second, and the Yasi team third. As for the Women's category, the Dubai Police team topped the standings, followed by the Airwerks Racing team in second place, and the Astero Falcon in third.

The coronation ceremony was attended by a number of prominent figures, including His Excellency Dr. Mugheer Khamis Al Khaili, Chairman of the Department of Community Development; His Excellency Brigadier General Essam Abdullah Al Ali, Member of the Board of Directors of the Abu Dhabi Cycling Club; Colonel Hamad Khalfan Al Ketbi, Representative of Al Ain Police; His Excellency Dr. Saif Sultan Al Nasseri, Undersecretary of the Department of Municipalities and Transport; His Excellency Eng. Rashed Musabbah Al Manei, Acting Director General of Al Ain City Municipality; His Excellency Aref Hamad Al Awani, General Secretary of the Abu Dhabi Sports Council; His Excellency Matar Salem Badr Al Dhaheri, Executive Director of Support Services - Court of the Ruler's Representative in Al Ain Region; Fouad Darwish, CEO & Managing Director of Palms Sports; Sultan Mohammed Al Neyadi, Representative of Burjeel Holdings; Ayman Al Bijawi, Director of Sales and Marketing at Bin Hamoodah; Abdul Wahid Juma Frish, Representative of Tadweer; Al Nekhaira Al Khaili, CEO of the Abu Dhabi Cycling Club; and Sam Renouf, Representative of Wolffs.

His Excellency Aref Hamad Al Awani, Secretary General of Abu Dhabi Sports Council, expressed his pride in the event’s success, and said: “For the third time, the Bike Abu Dhabi Gran Fondo has achieved great success with participation from more than 70 nationalities. This success reinforces our commitment to supporting the community and developing cycling in the UAE and the region.

“I would like to congratulate all the winners and thank all the participants, whether they are participating for the first time or those who are familiar with the race, and we look forward to welcoming them in the coming years.”

Fabrizio D’Amico, Chief Operating Officer of RCS Sports and Race Director, said: “Congratulations to all the riders who performed brilliantly. The race was an exceptional opportunity to bring together riders from diverse backgrounds and skills, reflecting a great passion for cycling.”

In a special statement, Tim Marsman expressed his happiness at his team, Shabab Al Ahli, winning, and said: “This achievement would not have been possible without the cooperation of my teammates. The intensive preparation and training was a major reason for achieving this positive result.”

For her part, Akvile Gedraityte of the Dubai Police team said: “I was determined to maintain a good pace throughout the race, and I was able to reach the finish line thanks to the continuous effort and great support.”