Dubai: A twenty-four hour endurance mountain bike race that was being held at the Al Mamzar Park on Thursday had to be cancelled after a participant met with an accident and was critically injured.

German Thomas Graessler, 45, crashed into a kerb as he was going down the steps. He was critically injured and was air lifted to Rashid Hospital.

The sporting event was organized by Skyder, a German sport promotion company saw more than 50 biking enthusiasts taking part.

This is the first time that a 24-hour mountain bike race is being held in the UAE. Two of the participants were from the UAE as well.