The road to the 2028 UCI Gran Fondo World Championships begins in Abu Dhabi
The UCI Gran Fondo World Series is pleased to announce that the AD Ports Group Gran Fondo Abu Dhabi will officially join the UCI Gran Fondo World Series on 20 December 2026, offering amateur cyclists from around the world a new opportunity to qualify for the UCI Gran Fondo World Championships.
Formerly known as the Bike Abu Dhabi Gran Fondo, the event enters its fifth edition with a significant step up as it joins the UCI Gran Fondo World Series. This milestone also coincides with the arrival of AD Ports Group as title sponsor, with the event now renamed AD Ports Group Gran Fondo Abu Dhabi. In just a few years, it has established itself as one of the Middle East’s premier mass-participation cycling events. The 154 km course links the iconic Hazza Bin Zayed Stadium in Al Ain with the Sheikh Zayed Festival in Al Wathba, Abu Dhabi, giving participants a unique opportunity to experience the diverse landscapes of the Emirate on a fast and predominantly flat route.
The addition of AD Ports Group Gran Fondo Abu Dhabi further strengthens the global reach of the UCI Gran Fondo World Series, bringing world-class amateur cycling competition to one of the world’s fastest-growing cycling destinations.
A World Championships Preview
The event carries additional significance as Abu Dhabi has been awarded to host the 2028 UCI Gran Fondo World Championships. Riders competing in December will therefore have the opportunity to race on the very roads that will crown future world champions just two years later.
The qualification event will use the same championship courses planned for the 2028 UCI Gran Fondo World Championships, offering participants an early taste of the conditions, scenery, and atmosphere they can expect when the world’s best amateur cyclists gather in the United Arab Emirates.
