Abu Dhabi: Cycling’s surging popularity in the UAE could lead to a two-wheeled extravaganza encompassing the entire country being established, according to Mark Cavendish.
The Abu Dhabi Tour ambassador — who took the overall lead in this year’s capital showpiece by winning the second stage on Friday afternoon — is hugely impressed by the UAE’s efforts to promote the sport.
These seriously began with the creation of the Dubai Tour, which celebrated its third edition last February, and were then built upon by the inauguration of the Abu Dhabi Tour last October.
And the wheels have not stopped turning on the UAE cycling success story with the news last month that the latter event will be held again in February 2017 — and has furthermore been upgraded to World Tour status.
“I think it is feasible,” the 31-year-old said on being asked about the prospect of a Tour of the UAE. “I have heard some whispers [about this]. I don’t see it as an impossible feat, but it depends when it is on.
“It couldn’t be the same time as the Tour de France [in July] and at other times in the year when the temperatures are high, though.”
For now, however, Cavendish is simply delighted that co-organisers the Abu Dhabi Sports Council have helped stage an event which “showcases the emirate superbly well”.
He explained that worldwide television audiences watching the four-stage race, which finishes on Sunday, were being given an unrivalled glimpse of Abu Dhabi’s sumptuous beauty.
“The beauty of a bike race snaking through incredible landmarks is that it’s the perfect way to showcase the country,” he said, speaking at the race headquarters at the St Regis Hotel on the Abu Dhabi Corniche. “There wasn’t a rider in the peloton who didn’t go past the Shaikh Zayed Grand Mosque [today] and stop in awe.”
Cavendish went on to hail bosses at the final stage of the Abu Dhabi Tour, Yas Marina Circuit, for helping to nurture interest in cycling.
“On a Tuesday night, they have a few thousand people there and 8,000 riders every week, which is pretty impressive on a completely closed and safe F1 circuit.”
