Dubai: Majid Al Balooshi from UAE and Carolina Karlsson from Sweden took first place in the men's and women's categories of the 112km Epic Race at this year's prestigious L'‚¬Å¡¬€¦¡¬€š¬¦¡¬°tape Dubai by Tour de France presented by €š¬…¡¬‚¬¦¡¬¦ koda.
According to Emirates News Agency, the Dubai Sports Council-backed event reinforced the emirate's position as a global hub for international sporting events, drawing in 1,200 amateur cyclists from 79 countries. The event's prestige was further elevated by the participation of cycling icons such as seven-time Tour de France Green Jersey winner and three-time UCI Road World Champion Peter Sagan, alongside Zdenek €š¬…¡¬‚¬¦¡¬¦ tybar.
The awards ceremony saw senior representatives from key partner organizations, including Saeed Hareb, Secretary-General of the Dubai Sports Council; Lukas Honzak, Managing Director, €š¬…¡¬‚¬¦¡¬¦ koda Middle East; Antione Quiers, Project Manager of ASO, and Peter Sagan, who helped present trophies to the victors.
The Epic Race, the event's main attraction, commenced on Sunday from the Dubai Design District, navigating through iconic locations like Nad Al Sheba and Al Ain Road. Riders faced challenging conditions, including strong desert winds, before concluding with an intense sprint finish at Expo Village Park. Safety was a top priority, ensuring a smooth and well-organized event.
Majid Al Balooshi emerged victorious in the men's category with a time of 02:36:21, closely followed by Faisal Almamari and Stepan Shishkov. In the women's category, Carolina Karlsson claimed the top spot with a time of 02:37:52, with Kristina Zabolotko and Maria Bykovskaya securing second and third place.
In the 67km Classic Race, Chrysler Tadena from the Philippines won the men's category with a time of 01:37:50, while Alena Pavlatova from the Czech Republic triumphed in the women's category, clocking 01:39:03. Emerging talents like 15-year-old Zayed Zeeshan also made a mark in the event.
The introduction of three dedicated sprint segments was a new feature this year. The Sagan Speed Challenge was notably won by Francesco Bettini in the men's category, while Carolina Karlsson topped the women's standings. Both were awarded special jerseys by Peter Sagan, who participated and engaged with cyclists throughout the weekend.
The opening day featured a vibrant festival atmosphere at the L'‚¬Å¡¬€¦¡¬€š¬¦¡¬°tape Village in Expo Village Park, highlighted by the €š¬…¡¬‚¬¦¡¬¦ koda Kids' Race and the 20-kilometre €š¬…¡¬‚¬¦¡¬¦ koda Family Ride. Over the weekend, the event welcomed a record 1,200 cyclists, including 20 percent international and 10 percent Emirati participants.
Saeed Hareb expressed delight at the event's success, emphasizing its contribution to promoting physical fitness and supporting Dubai's vision of an inclusive sports environment. Antoine Quiers praised the event's return, highlighting the unique Tour de France atmosphere and the involvement of champions Peter Sagan and Zdenek €š¬…¡¬‚¬¦¡¬¦ tybar. He noted the exceptional experience delivered in 2026, celebrating Dubai as a prime location for cycling events with its incredible venues and passionate athletes.