Abu Dhabi Tour: Race promotes interactivity to get close to fans

Abu Dhabi: The 2016 Abu Dhabi Tour has been a truly immersive experience thanks to a range of information available to viewers of the cycling spectacular on television and online.

Co-organisers, the Abu Dhabi Sports Council, have teamed up with Velon, the association for 11 pro cycling teams, to offer the following on the four-day race:

• More on-bike camera feeds from every stage — available to all race TV broadcasters for use in their live and delayed coverage.

• All rider data is also available for fans to pore over on the Abu Dhabi Tour section of the Velon website, app and on the Abu Dhabi Tour’s website www.abudhabitour.com.

Mark Cavendish, who won the second stage of the event on Friday, believes such information is hugely beneficial given that it allows amateur cyclists to compare themselves to the professionals.

“The Sunday cyclist or fan can now see exactly how we are faring.”

Aref Al Awani, General Secretary of the Abu Dhabi Sports Council, added: “During the fourth stage of the first Abu Dhabi Tour at Yas Marina Circuit last October, we saw the first live, on-board camera footage in a men’s professional road race. The Abu Dhabi Tour is confirmed as an ideal race to test technological innovations that make cycling more and more interactive and spectacular for television viewers around the world.

“ As the Abu Dhabi Sports Council, we can only be proud of that.”