Why cycling is booming in the UAE and won't be slowing down any time soon

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  • Cycling in the UAE has never been more popular.

    On the heels of staging previous World Tour events like the Abu Dhabi Tour and Dubai Tour, people in the Emirates are capitalising on the rapidly rising interest in the sport.

    And while on the outside, Dubai and Abu Dhabi may not be considered bike-friendly cities due to their busy roads, there are several tracks across the country which are perfect for individual and group rides.

    Two professional cycling teams have already come out of UAE in recent years – Team UAE Emirates and Al’Asayl Cycling Team – while the nation had its first cyclist at the Olympics since 1988 when Yousif Mirza competed at the Rio Olympics in 2016.

    Mirza, himself has blazed a trail for young Emiratis to get involved in the sport, with his blistering performances on both the local and international stage capturing the interest of many youngsters.

    The 30-year-old, who is competing in the Tour of Oman this week, has seen the growth of cycling at first hand having taken up the sport nearly 20 years ago in his home town of Ras Al Khaimah.

    “The growth of cycling in the UAE has been amazing,” said Mirza, who is an eight-time UAE champion. “The country is investing heavily in cycling with the creation of new cycling tracks and paths to encourage more people to get on their bikes. It’s great to see so many people utilising them, and becoming part of the UAE cycling community.”

    Another man who has been a central part of cycling’s growth in Dubai is Wolfi Hohmann. The German, who owns Wolfi’s Bike Shop on Sheikh Zayed Road, has been living and working in the UAE for nearly two decades and is a regular competitor at events around the Emirates.

    “Originally cycling was very small. There were only groups of three or four riders. The city looked very different, roads were smaller and the routes were smaller and very different,” said the Freiburg native.

    “But as the years have gone on, it has slowly built momentum. It kept suddenly getting bigger. People started bringing friends along and it kept doubling all the way.”

    If you go up to Al Qudra any weekend you will struggle to get a parking space such is the huge demand to cycle. And with 50km, 70km and 100km options available, there is something for riders of all abilities.

    The tracks up at Nad Al Sheba and Al Mamzar Park in Dubai plus Al Hudayriat Island and Al Wathba in Abu Dhabi also provide safe opportunities for all cyclists, with a closed-to-traffic format to help make people feel safer.

    Privately owned facilities like Dubai Autodrome and Yas Marina Circuit are available for cyclists to use, but only open their gates for one or two nights during the week.

    “When they built Al Qudra that was a bigger point to its growth. People felt like they were missing out on something. It was like when mobile phones came out and everyone started buying them. Everyone wanted a bike,” said Wolfi.

    “It’s a beautiful sport, the weather is great and the facilities that the government have provided have only added to making this possible.”

    Other higher peaks are popular the further you drive out of Dubai and Abu Dhabi and this is where Mirza trains often in a bid to test himself on tougher terrains. Jebel Jais, for example, is the highest peak in the UAE, stretching to 6,207 ft above sea level.

    “The facilities in the UAE continue to get better and better – they are undoubtedly the best in the region,” he said.

    “I can cycle through the desert in Al Qudra to work on my speed, or I can head to Al Ain and Jebel Hafeet to work on my climbing. In the UAE, whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned cyclist, there is something for everyone.”

    In other countries around the world, cycling is considered a mode of transportation to work, while in the UAE, it’s more of a form of exercise and way to keep fit and healthy.

    “Cycling has always had that sporty touch in the UAE. In other countries around the world, it’s a bit more for commuting and coffee shop hopping. It’s a more dedicated sporting activity in the UAE. People go cycling around Meydan and Al Qudra in the morning and use the shower facilities that are free before work,” said Wolfi.

    Now, people can join up with clubs like Dubai Roadsters at Al Qudra to meet like-minded people, new friends and improve their fitness. Generally as an expat, having a sport or activity to focus on outside of work allows you to switch off and feel more at home.

    “People really enjoy it. It improves your quality of life while also increasing your fitness and making new friends. It’s a great chance just to switch off before or after work. It’s like a meditated space. When I go out in the mornings, it’s like I’m refreshing my brain and system,” Wolfi added.

    In fact, it’s a boom that shows no signs of slowing down.

    History was made last year when Al’Asayl Cycling Team was set up in Abu Dhabi – the first UCI professional women’s team in the Middle East.

    One of their stars is Irishwoman Roisin Thomas – who cycled seven emirates in seven days in under 15 hours in 2017 – and she believes the increase in different styled competitions has helped riders appreciate and enjoy competition a lot more.

    “There are more races and more of a variety of races for people to get involved in,” she said. “They have stage racing now, spread over four days a month. You have to approach it in a more technical way for sprint points. It brings out the best in different types of riders – climbers, sprinters, time trialists. It showcases their individual strengths.”

    As far as the team itself is concerned, with riders from the UAE, Uzbekistan, Egypt and Malaysia on the roster, success is continuing.

    “We won the UAE cycling championship last year and were always on the podium. These are junior girls on our team beating elite women,” Thomas added.

    At the UAE Tour next week, the likes of Fernando Gaviria, Alexander Kristoff and Fabio Aru will don the UAE colours – households names who have the chance to win stages on any given day such is their class. Chris Froome – a four-time Tour de France champion – will also be on the start line.

    Standing only a few metres away from the peloton at Al Hudayriat Island on Sunday will be Wolfi himself, cheering on as a fan while also chatting to the riders he has got to know on a personal basis over the years.

    “It’s fantastic they have joined both Abu Dhabi and Dubai Tours together,” he said. “It brilliant how they have merged together to have seven stages in the seven different emirates. It showcases the beauty of the country and seeing all the scenery makes you realise how beautiful this country is.”

    Mirza also echoes his views and can’t wait to watch his team-mates on home turf against some of the world’s best.

    “I think the UAE Tour is a real step up in class – in terms of both the race and the riders. You can see from the rider line-up how important all teams feel this race can be, whilst the UAE Team Emirates line-up is going to be extremely competitive,” he added.

    “As for the race, it’s going to bring cycling fans across all seven emirates together to celebrate this watershed moment – it is going to be really special for them.”

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