UCI Cycling Gala to reward world's best Elite Men and Women road cyclists

The first UCI Cycling Gala, marking the end of the UCI professional road cycling season, will be held in AbuDhabi, the United Arab Emirates, on October 11. The festivities will take place at the Yas Marina Island "duArena" concert venue on the evening of the final stage of the inaugural Abu Dhabi Tour, a four-day stagerace on the UCI Asia Tour calendar.

During the evening of celebration, awards will be presented to athletes who have distinguished themselvesthroughout the season in, among others, the UCI WorldTour, the UCI Women Road World Cup, the threeGrand Tours and the UCI Road World Championships. Among special awards will be one for fair play andtwo for the new holders of the Men and Women’s UCI Hour Records.

UCI President Brian Cookson said the UCI Cycling Gala would be a fitting end to an exciting road season:"From shoulder to shoulder sprints to the finish line to courageous solo break-away moves, the riders havekept us on the edge of our seats throughout the year. The UCI Cycling Gala is our way of thanking andrewarding them for their amazing performances. I am thrilled that the Abu Dhabi Sports Council and theUnited Arab Emirates Cycling Federation have undertaken to host this gala in conjunction with their newAbu Dhabi Tour."

Mr. Aref Hamad Al Awani, General Secretary of Abu Dhabi Sports Council, said: "Abu Dhabi is ready toshow all its assets. The goal is for all to enjoy to a hard fought and well organised race, and to celebrate ourefforts with an unforgettable UCI Cycling Gala."

The awards categories:

Winner of the UCI WorldTour Individual Classification

2nd in the UCI WorldTour Individual Classification

3rd in the UCI WorldTour Individual Classification

Winner of the UCI WorldTour Team Classification

Winner of the UCI WorldTour Classification by Nation

Men’s Elite UCI Road Race World Champion

Women’s Elite UCI Road Race World Champion

Men’s Elite UCI Individual Time Trial World Champion

Women’s Elite UCI Individual Time Trial Champion

Men’s Elite UCI Team Time Trial Champion

Women’s Elite UCI Team Time Trial Champion

Winner of the UCI Women Road World Cup

Men’s UCI Hour Record Holder

Women’s UCI Hour Record Holder

Fair Play

Giro d’Italia Winner

Tour de France Winner

Vuelta a España Winner

SPECIAL RECOGNITION

Abu Dhabi Tour Winner

#RideToAbuDhabi

The Abu Dhabi Tour, organised by the Abu Dhabi Sports Council in collaboration with RCS Sport, will takeplace from 8 to 11 October. It consists of four stages covering a total distance of 555km; three stages favourthe sprinters, while the remaining stage (the 3rd), finishing uphill after a 750m climb with gradientstouching 12%, will probably decide the General Classification.

For more information contact:

Louis Chenaille

UCI Press Officer

+41 79 198 7047

louis.chenaille@uci.ch

John Zerafa

VERO Communications

+44 7813 814 816

jzerafa@verocom.co.uk

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