Dubai: Majid Al Balooshi from UAE and Carolina Karlsson from Sweden claimed first place in the men's and women's categories of the 112km Epic Race at the second edition of L'€š¬…¡¬‚¬¦¡¬°tape Dubai by Tour de France presented by ‚¬Å¡¬€¦¡¬¦ koda.
According to Emirates News Agency, the event, backed by the Dubai Sports Council, further solidified Dubai's status as a global hub for international sporting events, attracting 1,200 amateur cyclists from 79 countries. The participation of cycling legends such as seven-time Tour de France Green Jersey winner and three-time UCI Road World Champion Peter Sagan, alongside Zdenek ‚¬Å¡¬€¦¡¬¦ tybar, added to the prestige of the event.
The official awards ceremony featured senior representatives from key partner and stakeholder organizations, including Saeed Hareb, Secretary-General of the Dubai Sports Council; Lukas Honzak, Managing Director of ‚¬Å¡¬€¦¡¬¦ koda Middle East; Antoine Quiers, Project Manager of ASO, organizers of Tour de France; and Peter Sagan, who helped present trophies to the winners.
The main Epic Race took place on Sunday, with cyclists departing from Dubai Design District (D3) and navigating a fast yet controlled initial section before passing through prominent locations like Nad Al Sheba and Al Ain Road. The peloton formed several closely packed groups, fostering a competitive atmosphere before riders enjoyed scenic sections through Global Village. As the race neared its conclusion, participants faced strong desert winds, culminating in an exciting sprint to the finish at Expo Village Park. Rider safety remained paramount throughout the event, ensuring a successful and well-organized race.
Majid Al Balooshi emerged victorious in the male category, finishing with a time of 02:36:21 after a highly contested race. Faisal Almamari and Stepan Shishkov completed the podium, finishing close behind.
In the female category, Carolina Karlsson secured first place with a time of 02:37:52, with Kristina Zabolotko and Maria Bykovskaya taking second and third place respectively.
The 67km Classic Race saw Chrysler Tadena from the Philippines clinch first place in the male category with a time of 01:37:50, while Alena Pavlatova from the Czech Republic won the female category with a time of 01:39:03. The event also showcased emerging talent, including 15-year-old Zayed Zeeshan, one of the youngest participants to complete the course.
A new feature introduced this year was three dedicated sprint segments, including the Sagan Speed Challenge near Global Village, won by Francesco Bettini in the men's category and Carolina Karlsson in the women's category. Both were awarded special jerseys by Peter Sagan, who participated in the event and engaged with participants throughout the weekend.
Saturday marked the opening of the L'€š¬…¡¬‚¬¦¡¬°tape Dubai by Tour de France weekend, with a full program of activities in a vibrant festival-style setting at the L'€š¬…¡¬‚¬¦¡¬°tape Village in Expo Village Park. The highlight of the day was the cycling, with hundreds participating in the ‚¬Å¡¬€¦¡¬¦ koda Kids' Race and the 20-kilometre ‚¬Å¡¬€¦¡¬¦ koda Family Ride.
The races collectively welcomed a record 1,200 cyclists, with international riders making up about 20 percent of participants and Emiratis accounting for 10 percent, underscoring the event's international appeal and strong local presence.
Saeed Hareb expressed delight at the event's success, emphasizing its role in promoting Dubai as a preferred sports destination and raising awareness of physical fitness. Antoine Quiers noted the successful return of L'€š¬…¡¬‚¬¦¡¬°tape Dubai, highlighting the unique Tour de France atmosphere and thanking stakeholders for their involvement, expressing confidence in further successes in future editions.