{"id":63922,"date":"2024-06-07T15:14:20","date_gmt":"2024-06-07T13:14:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/cyclingplus\/?post_type=purple_issue&p=63922"},"modified":"2024-06-07T17:55:52","modified_gmt":"2024-06-07T15:55:52","slug":"destination-united-arab-emirates","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/cyclingplus\/2024\/06\/07\/destination-united-arab-emirates\/","title":{"rendered":"Destination: United Arab Emirates"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
DESTINATION<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n

United Arab Emirates<\/h2>\n\n
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Right Al Qudra cycle track near Dubai has over 100km of pristine tarmac carved through the desert <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n

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The Middle East might not spring to mind when you think of a cycling-holiday destination, but Arabian Gulf state the United Arab Emirates is trying to change that. <\/p>\n\n

The title sponsor of two-time Tour de France winner Tadej Poga\u010dar\u2019s WorldTour Team, the country also hosts early season, elite-level stage races in both the men\u2019s and women\u2019s peloton. Its capital, Abu Dhabi, is set to host both the UCI\u2019s road and track World Championships before the end of the decade. <\/p>\n\n

But the government is also pouring money into cycling infrastructure and has designated tracks with the aim of improving the health and wellness of its 9 million people (roughly 90% of whom are expats), as well as fostering a future Emirati Tour de France champ. <\/p>\n\n

One Brit benefiting from the UAE\u2019s interest in cycling is Nathan Ederson, who moved to Dubai from Birmingham in January 2023 to work as a sales specialist at Wolfi\u2019s \u2013 a chain of bike shops that has roots in the Black Forest, Germany, and opened its first UAE store in 2002. <\/p>\n\n

\u201cIn the UK, you can ride out of your front door, but here you can\u2019t safely ride on the roads because they\u2019re busier,\u201d says the 21-year-old. <\/p>\n\n

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Climbing to Jebel Jais (1,892m) during the 176km Stage 3 from Al Marjan island in the 2024 UAE Tour<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n

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The peloton passes the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi during the fifth UAE Tour in 2023<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n

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Instead, a lot of the cycling in the UAE is circuit-based. Purpose built, traffic free, and free to use, they range from 8.4km loops such as Dubai\u2019s Meydan circuit, through to Al Qudra, with more than 100km of asphalt. Most have minimal elevation gain and long, sweeping corners, providing the perfect place to switch off and spin or hone in on some high-intensity efforts. <\/p>\n\n

It\u2019s not as dull as it sounds. In Abu Dhabi, Al Hudayriat offers jaw-dropping views of downtown\u2019s imposing skyline, while Al Wathba\u2019s desert location sees you flanked by dunes; as the sun sets on the horizon, it feels like you\u2019re on Mars \u2013 the occasional crosswind the only thing bringing you back to Earth. <\/p>\n\n

Ederson adds that riding on the road isn\u2019t completely out of the question, but it\u2019s best to do it as part of a group such as the Dubai Roadsters \u2013 a Sunday morning ride that meets at the city\u2019s Nad Al Sheba market parking lot and has support cars that carry spares and water. \u201cThere are five routes of varying lengths that go on the roads out into the desert towards Al Khawaneej \u2013 you\u2019re in the dunes and you often have camels on the road. It\u2019s fairly quick \u2013 sometimes three hours and 100-110km \u2013 but it\u2019s amazing.\u201d <\/p>\n\n

April 2024\u2019s floods aside, rain is so scarce it\u2019s scheduled by the government using a process called cloud seeding. \u201cIf you come here to ride in a warmer climate, September to December and March to April are ideal,\u201d says Ederson. Even in January it hits highs of 25\u00b0C, making it a great escape for some mid-winter sun. <\/p>\n\n

Big dates<\/strong>
November\u2019s Bike Abu Dhabi Gran Fondo has a prize pool of \u00a3430,000, split across age categories. <\/p>\n\n

Don\u2019t miss<\/strong>
You can spin your way around Abu Dhabi\u2019s Yas Marina Formula One circuit every Monday and Wednesday night (6pm-10pm) and Tuesday and Thursday morning (6am-8am). Vincenzo Nibali holds the Strava KOM for two 5.3km laps. <\/p>\n\n

Travel<\/strong>
You can fly direct to Abu Dhabi or Dubai from the UK, then it\u2019s best to arrange private transfers. <\/p>\n\n

Accommodation<\/strong>
Yas Island has hotels to suit a range of budgets. Close to Yas Marina Circuit, it\u2019s conveniently located for a quick morning or evening blast, while the capital\u2019s other tracks are just a short transfer away. <\/p>\n\n

Tourist information<\/strong>
u.ae<\/a> <\/em><\/p>\n\n

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\n

The route <\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

\u25cf Jebel Hafeet might be the mountain you\u2019re most familiar with from the UAE Tour, but the longer, if less steep, ascent up Jebel Jais in the north-western Hajar Range offers even better climbing. The 35.1km three-lane road snakes through a lunar landscape up 1,670m of elevation gain at an average of 4.1% to reach its summit (1,892m), and the UAE\u2019s highest point, at the Omani border. With very little traffic and long gaps between switchbacks, expect to reach terminal velocity on the way back down. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

01 <\/span>Bike shop <\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25cf Wolfi\u2019s (wolfi.ae<\/a>) offers carbon fibre bike rental from AED 200 (\u00a343) per day at its shops in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Al Ain. Pedals and helmets also available. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

02 <\/span>Lunch stop <\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25cf Al Washaq Foodtruck, Viewpoint 8, Jebel Jais is a welcome refuelling spot after making it to the top of UAE. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

03 <\/span>Photo op <\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25cf There are many selfie spots on the mountain, but 1484 Viewing Point has a 360\u00b0 vista and views across the Persian Gulf on clear days. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Distance <\/strong>69.1km Elevation <\/strong>1,670m <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Download <\/strong>komoot.com\/tour\/1438682267<\/a> <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Words <\/strong>Charlie Allenby Photography <\/strong>Getty Images<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

DESTINATION United Arab Emirates The Middle East might not spring to mind when you think of a cycling-holiday destination, but Arabian Gulf state the United Arab Emirates is trying to change that. The title sponsor of two-time Tour de France winner Tadej Poga\u010dar\u2019s WorldTour Team, the country also hosts early season, elite-level stage races in […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":24,"featured_media":64447,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ub_ctt_via":"","purple_page_number":"20","purple_custom_meta_purple_page_number":"20","purple_seq_number":"1","purple_custom_meta_purple_seq_number":"1","purple_source_article":"article_20-1.xml","purple_custom_meta_purple_source_article":"article_20-1.xml","purple_source_issue":"Summer-2024","purple_custom_meta_purple_source_issue":"Summer-2024","purple_external_id":"Summer-2024-20-1","purple_custom_meta_purple_external_id":"Summer-2024-20-1","purple_issue_code":"|0000116816||","purple_custom_meta_purple_issue_code":"|0000116816||","purple_android_product":"com.im.cyclingplus.420","purple_custom_meta_purple_android_product":"com.im.cyclingplus.420","purple_ios_product":"com.im.cyclingplus.420","purple_custom_meta_purple_ios_product":"com.im.cyclingplus.420","purple_web_product":"","purple_custom_meta_purple_web_product":"","purple_publication_id":"d6ad2395-23ab-4326-a10d-940b8b948490","purple_migrated":"","kt_blocks_editor_width":"","apple_news_api_created_at":"2024-06-07T13:18:49Z","apple_news_article-theme":"","apple_news_api_id":"839aae10-134e-4763-995b-04f8b49aea79","apple_news_api_modified_at":"2024-06-07T15:55:53Z","apple_news_api_revision":"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAg==","apple_news_api_share_url":"https:\/\/apple.news\/Ag5quEBNOR2OZWwT4tJrqeQ","apple_news_coverimage":0,"apple_news_coverimage_caption":"","apple_news_is_hidden":false,"apple_news_is_paid":false,"apple_news_is_preview":false,"apple_news_is_sponsored":false,"apple_news_maturity_rating":"","apple_news_pullquote":"","apple_news_pullquote_position":"","apple_news_article_theme":"","apple_news_sections":"\"\""},"categories":[48],"tags":[14],"apple_news_notices":[],"featured_image_src":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2024\/05\/e3f11302-d5ba-4f45-8812-f924192b5e83.jpg","author_info":{"display_name":"importmanagerhub@sprylab.com","author_link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/cyclingplus\/author\/importmanagerhubsprylab-com\/"},"acf":{"readingTimeMinutes":"5","apple_news_title":""},"uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2024\/05\/e3f11302-d5ba-4f45-8812-f924192b5e83.jpg",553,553,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2024\/05\/e3f11302-d5ba-4f45-8812-f924192b5e83-150x150.jpg",150,150,true],"medium":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2024\/05\/e3f11302-d5ba-4f45-8812-f924192b5e83-300x300.jpg",300,300,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2024\/05\/e3f11302-d5ba-4f45-8812-f924192b5e83.jpg",553,553,false],"large":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2024\/05\/e3f11302-d5ba-4f45-8812-f924192b5e83.jpg",553,553,false],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2024\/05\/e3f11302-d5ba-4f45-8812-f924192b5e83.jpg",553,553,false],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2024\/05\/e3f11302-d5ba-4f45-8812-f924192b5e83.jpg",553,553,false]},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"importmanagerhub@sprylab.com","author_link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/cyclingplus\/author\/importmanagerhubsprylab-com\/"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"DESTINATION United Arab Emirates The Middle East might not spring to mind when you think of a cycling-holiday destination, but Arabian Gulf state the United Arab Emirates is trying to change that. The title sponsor of two-time Tour de France winner Tadej Poga\u010dar\u2019s WorldTour Team, the country also hosts early season, elite-level stage races in…","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/cyclingplus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/63922"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/cyclingplus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/cyclingplus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/cyclingplus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/24"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/cyclingplus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=63922"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/cyclingplus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/63922\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":66124,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/cyclingplus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/63922\/revisions\/66124"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/cyclingplus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/64447"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/cyclingplus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=63922"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/cyclingplus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=63922"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/cyclingplus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=63922"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}