$1m on offer in Race of Champions

Dubai: The UAE will play host to yet another of the world's richest races towards the end of this year when Abu Dhabi stages the $1 million Race of Champions.

Scheduled to start on November 1, this unique event will bring together the cream of international cycling, pitting the winners of three of Europe's major cycle races against each other.

Individual and team champions from Italy's Giro d'Italia (currently taking place), July's Tour de France and Spain's La Vuelta which kicks off in September, as well as several wild card entrants will gather in the UAE capital for the 212km, three-stage race.

"This is quite an exciting event, the first of its kind," said Wolfi Hohmann, General Manager of Wolfi's Bike Shop, who has been asked by race organisers to be involved in the event and possibly enter a team.

"Its three days where they ride a distance of 200 km which I thought was quite interesting because 200 km for a pro cyclist is nothing. They would usually do that in one day so it will be quite interesting to see what kind of speed they will achieve because if it's a million dollars for the winner, we might see some speed records set on the course.

"I'm sure, as always in the Emirates, that the Race of Champions is going to be an outstanding race. And hopefully the spectators will be there in their numbers to witness it."