Abu Dhabi wants to be the opening race of the international XCO scene: in fact the first races of the season cross country international competitions have been held for some years in Spain: Chelva on 17 and 18 February and Banyoles (23-24 February), both Hors Catégorie.
But this year this year the HERO Abu Dhabi Hudayriyat Island. Date? From Friday 9th to Sunday 11th February in Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates. It will be the first edition with an event cross-country class C1.
Some experts have already been on patrol and tell us about a route that is an understatement to define as modern: completely artificial, but then again we are in the desert so there are no other solutions. Luke Braidot, the European Under 23 champion Sofie Pedersen e Alexandra Keller They took pictures on the race course. The race will be held on Hudayriyat Island with the skyscrapers of Abu Dhabi in the background. The XCO course is 5,4 km long and follows the Trail, an artificial structure dedicated to mountain biking with built-in banks, jumps and platforms.
PRIZE MONEY FOR SHEIKS
€150.000,00 (AED 600,000.00) Jackpot. It's nice to see how the shares are equal between men and women.
XCC Short Track
| 1st rank | 2.000 € |
| 2st rank | 1.500 € |
| 3st rank | 1.000 € |
| 4st rank | 500 € |
| 5st rank | 450 € |
XCO Cross Country
| 1st rank | 20.000 € |
| 2st rank | 10.000 € |
| 3st rank | 7.000 € |
| 4st rank | 5.500 € |
| 5st rank | 4.000 € |
| 6st rank | 3.500 € |
| 7st rank | 3.000 € |
| 8st rank | 2.500 € |
| 9st rank | 2.000 € |
| 10st rank | 1.500 € |
GARE PROGRAM
Friday February 9
16:00 Short Track Women elite
16pm Short Track Men elite
Sunday February 11
13pm Cross country women open (elite + under 00)
15pm Cross country men open (elite + under 30)
THE STARTING LIST
The starting list is made up of prestigious names, representing 20 nations from 5 continents. Among the 60 athletes, 15 are current national or continental champions from Oceania and Africa. The great attraction of the event is also given by the XCO Class 1 races that will award points useful for the qualification for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
Among the confirmed entrants for the competition, the name of three-time world road cycling champion Peter Sagan stands out, who has never hidden his ambition to conquer an Olympic podium in the discipline that saw him debut as an elite biker. And it is precisely from HERO Abu Dhabi Hudayriyat Island that the campaign to earn points to qualify for the five-ring test of the Cross Country XCO in Paris 2024 begins.
Other names present include the Italian Luca Braidot, current Italian national champion and winner of the world bronze last year, and Gustav Pedersen, Danish XCO national champion.
The women's field is also of absolute value, with the reigning Italian XCO champion Martina Berta, already world champion of the discipline in 2023. In the same elite grid also the Danish Sofie Pedersen, current European Under23 XCO champion and Ingrid Jacobsen, seven times Norwegian national XCO champion, currently reigning.
