Abu Dhabi 2028 Worlds set to favour sprinters despite artificial climb rumours

When Abu Dhabi was awarded the Worlds, the expectation was that the race would echo Doha 2016, where the desert winds and flat roads set the stage for a mass sprint. In recent months, however, doubts surfaced after news emerged that an artificial hill was being constructed on Hudayriyat Island. Some riders wondered whether the course might take an unexpected turn.

Tim Merlier was among those to question whether the championship would remain a rare opportunity for the pure fast men. The trend in recent years has moved decisively in the opposite direction. Zurich in 2024 featured over 4,000 metres of climbing. Kigali went even further. Montreal and Haute Savoie promise similarly demanding profiles. 

Against that backdrop, even a modest ascent in Abu Dhabi was enough to spark concern.

Speaking during the UAE Tour, Van den Abeele sought to end the debate.

“It will certainly be a sprinters’ World Championships,” he said to Sporza. “It was the request of president David Lappartient to make it a festival for sprinters. It has been quite some time since we had a Worlds designed specifically for them.”

He acknowledged that a climb is being built in the area, but insisted it is not intended to transform the nature of the race. The project predates the Worlds and is aimed primarily at developing cycling infrastructure in the region.

“There might be a hill of around 100 metres on the course, but nothing more,” Van den Abeele 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 definitive route for Abu Dhabi 2028 is expected to be presented later this year.