The anxiety amongst the sprinters might be understandable, as the current trend for the World Championships heavily favors the climbers. The 2025 race in Kigali featured over 4,000 meters of elevation gain, and the upcoming editions in Montreal and Haute Savoie all promise similarly demanding mountain profiles. Against that backdrop, even a modest ascent in Abu Dhabi was enough to spark concern.
A deliberate choice for the fast men
Speaking during the recent UAE Tour, UCI director of sports Peter Van den Abeele firmly ended the debate and reassured the sprinters that their chance is still coming.
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The UCI director acknowledged the ongoing construction project in the United Arab Emirates, but he clarified that it is not meant to ruin the race profile. The hill is part of the region’s broader plan to develop local cycling infrastructure, and the project predates the World Championships entirely.
To put the sprinters’ minds at ease, Van den Abeele confirmed that the obstacle will be insignificant. “There might be a hill of around 100 metres on the course, but nothing more,” he explained. “It has been too long since sprinters stood on the podium in the rainbow jersey. The flat Worlds is coming, and the sprinters can sleep easy.”
The official and definitive route for the 2028 World Championships is still unknown, but it is expected to be presented later this year.