Abu Dhabi Cycling Race of Champions

Infobox Cycling race
name = Abu Dhabi Cycling Race of Champions


date = Early-November
region = Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
english = Abu Dhabi Cycling Race of Champions
localnames =
nickname = The World's Richest Cycling Race
discipline = Road race
competition =
type = Stage race
organiser = Abu Dhabi Tourism Autority
director =
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The Abu Dhabi Cycling Race of Champions is a road cycling race expected to have been held in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates annually for at least five years. The race, not being part of the UCI calendar, is organized by Unipublic (Vuelta a España organizer), Kenzay and Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority. The overall winner of the race will be awarded the largest prize in professional cycling, amounting to US$1,000,000. In 2007, the race would have been featuring the individual and team winners of the three Grand Tours, the UAE National Team along with five Championship teams selected from other international cycling races(to be selected in late September), taking place from November 7 until November 10, with a rest day in November 9. It would have consisted of three stages covering a total distance of 212 kilometres, involving a flat stage around Abu Dhabi, a stage finishing in Jebel Hafeet mountain and a final Individual time trial in Abu Dhabi.

Incumbent winner of 2007 Giro d'Italia, Danilo Di Luca, has openly said that he was planning to win the race. [ [http://www.cyclingnews.com/news.php?id=news/2007/jun07/jun20news www.cyclingnews.com - the world centre of cycling ] ] Along with Di Luca's Liquigas team, Saunier Duval-Prodir, winner of the team classification at the Giro d'Italia, and Alberto Contador's Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team have also guaranteed spots in the race.

Spanish race organiser Unipublic decided to suspend the 2007 Abu Dhabi Cycling Race of Champions citing "repeated failure to meet contractual obligations" by local contractors. The future of the race, although Unipublic remains interested in organising the event in future years. [ [http://www.cyclingnews.com/news.php?id=news/2007/sep07/sep22news Unipublic suspends Abu Dhabi Race of Champions] , is uncertain.]

External links

* [http://www.abudhabiraceofchampions.com Official Website]
* [http://www.dailypeloton.com/displayarticle.asp?pk=11569 Article by Dailypeloton.com]

References