Bike Abu Dhabi 2025: Serhii Sydor Clinches Overall Title

More than 1,000 cyclists completed the 150-kilometre Bike Abu Dhabi Gran Fondo route, competing for total prizes of AED 2 million. The fourth edition drew male and female riders from across the world, mixing elite professionals with amateurs on a course linking Al Ain’s Hazza Bin Zayed Stadium with the Sheikh Zayed Festival in Al Wathba.

The race started at 7:00 a.m., with participants representing 68 nationalities. Professional men’s and women’s pelotons, along with registered teams, formed the leading wave. Remaining riders were then organised into groups based on declared average speeds, which helped manage pacing, safety and support over the long desert and urban stretches.

Ukrainian rider Serhii Sydor of Al Wathba Team won the overall men’s title after covering the 150km distance in 2 hours, 57 minutes and 30 seconds. Dutch cyclist Cornelis Vermeltfoort finished second, only one second slower, while Russia’s Anton Popov secured third place, decided by fractions of a second at the finish line.

In the women’s overall classification, Dutch cyclist Nina Kessler captured first place with a time of 2 hours, 57 minutes and 37 seconds. Nora Jenčušová of Slovakia crossed the line second, and Yona Vandamme of the Netherlands completed the podium in third, reflecting a strong European presence in the front groups.

Emirati riders contested dedicated UAE Nationals classifications. In the men’s category, Abdullah Al Hammadi of Abu Dhabi Cycling Club claimed first place in 2 hours, 57 minutes and 33 seconds. Salem Al Shmeili of Dubai Police Team took second, while third position went to Ahmed Al Mansoori after a close contest among domestic riders.

The UAE Nationals women’s category saw My Whoosh Team dominate the standings. Marwa Salman recorded a winning time of 3 hours, 31 minutes and 14 seconds. Teammate Noura Al Ghafli secured second, with another My Whoosh rider, Aisha Foulad, placing third, underlining the squad’s depth across the women’s field.

Team competitions added another layer of strategy to the Bike Abu Dhabi Gran Fondo. In the men’s team classification, Dubai Police Team finished first, followed by Shabab Al Ahli Dubai in second and Abu Dhabi Cycling Club in third. Among women’s teams, Dubai Police Team again led, ahead of Dubai Residency Team and Astro Falcon Team.

Key results from the main categories are summarised below.

Bike Abu Dhabi Gran Fondo organisation and coverage

The start was officially signalled by Sheikh Hamdan bin Sultan bin Hamdan Al Nahyan, Director of the International Events Department at the Abu Dhabi Sports Council. Also present were Mansour Bu Osaiba, President of the UAE Cycling Federation, Talal Al Hashemi and Abdulrahim Al Zarouni from Abu Dhabi Sports Council, and Brigadier (Ret.) Issam Abdullah from Abu Dhabi Cycling Club.

The Sheikh Zayed Festival in Al Wathba hosted the finish line and the fourth edition’s Race Village. The area included fan engagement activities, shaded rest zones for cyclists, family areas, and spaces for exhibitors and event partners. This layout created an integrated environment for spectators and participants, combining sport with cultural and heritage presentations.

Abu Dhabi Sports Channel broadcast the Bike Abu Dhabi Gran Fondo live, with a dedicated analysis studio operating before, during and after the race. Coverage featured on-ground reporting, extended commentary and full reporting of category results. The broadcast highlighted both elite competition and the mass-participation element, reflecting the event’s role in Abu Dhabi’s cycling calendar.

With inputs from WAM