Dubai Tour 2014 cycling route awaits endorsement

Dubai: The Dubai Sports Council (DSC), organisers of the Dubai Tour 2014 are awaiting a final confirmation on the race route.

“We have submitted a route for the race that takes in all the major landmarks within Dubai. The police and the RTA have been studying the route and we should be getting a confirmation from them within the next couple of weeks,” Saeed Hareb, Chairman of the Organising Committee, told Gulf News.

Hareb was recently appointed chairman of the organising committee through Resolution No. 22 of 2013 from Shaikh Hamdan’s office. Other members on the committee are Yousuf Jawad Al Ridha, Osama Ahmad Al Shafar, Ms. Laila Suhail, Brigadier Ahmad Khalfan Al Mansouri, Huraiz Al Mur Bin Huraiz, Ali Mohammad Al Mutawa, Biman Younus Al Awadi and Ahmad Ebrahim.

As planned, the proposed route will include modern stops such as Burj Khalifa, Burj Al Arab and a special stage on The Palm Deira. The race will also go through older stops such as the Souq area in Bur Dubai, the Shindagha heritage area and the Gold Souq in Deira.

“Dubai is not just about being a modern city. It is also a destination that constantly seeks to evolve and grow but keeping the old heritage and culture at the heart of its growth,” Hareb noted.

The organising committee chairman said that the authorities are currently in the process of studying the feasibility of the proposed route.

“Once they are done with their observations they will get back to us and we will have another sitting before we announce the final draft of the route. That should happen sometime in June,” Hareb said.

It may be recalled that the Dubai Tour 2014 was announced at the beginning of the year by Shaikh Mansour Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum when he inaugurated the Dubai Cycling Course on Al Qudrah Road near Bab Al Shams Resort.

The Dubai Tour 2014, to be held in February next year under the auspices of the International Cycling Union (UCI) is targeting elite cyclists from across the world while also showcasing the beauty of Dubai by plotting a route that takes in all major landmarks and stops.

Grand Tour event winner Alberto Contador, Ryder Hesjidal and Vincenzo Nibali were among the dignitaries present at the announcement in January.

“The Dubai Tour 2014 won’t be just another cycling race. Our directives from top are very clear. We need to showcase Dubai that is an ideal destination combining the old with the modern and hence, it is important that the riders take in all these major aspects while racing,” Hareb said.