DUBAI — The UAE Tour announces the launch of the UAE Tour Mubadala Ramadan Virtual Challenge, an indoor cycling event beginning on Friday, April 24.

The challenge, aiming to encourage an active and healthy lifestyle while confined indoors during the holy month, will run for three weeks and draws to a close on Tuesday, May 12.

Participants will be invited to complete one race against the clock per week on the virtual cycling platform Zwift, with a host of prizes available for top finishers and virtual medals awarded to all those who take part.

The UAE Tour Mubadala Ramadan Challenge consists of three individual time trial races — featuring a flat stage, a rolling stage and a climbing stage — each taking place on Zwift.

Each week, participants will have from Friday 08:00 local time to Tuesday 23:00 to set their best time on that particular week’s time trial stage. Riders may attempt to beat their personal best as many times as they like until Tuesday’s cut off, before observing a two-day rest period ahead of the next week’s stage, beginning again on Friday.

There are, of course, prizes to be awarded to the event’s top finishers. The top three male and female riders with the fastest accumulative times across all three stages will each receive an official UAE Tour Jersey. In addition, those placed within the top 25 will receive official UAE Tour merchandise.

Challenge 1: Friday 24 April (08:00) – Tuesday 28 April (23:00): Flat Stage

Challenge 2: Friday 1 May (08:00) – Tuesday 5 May (23:00): Rolling Stage

Challenge 3: Friday 8 May (08:00) – Tuesday 12 May (23:00): Climbing Stage

How to get started

All riders will need to take part is their bicycle, a smart trainer or turbo trainer for indoor riding, a Zwift account to participate in each stage and a Strava account to log their efforts once completed on Zwift.

In order to take part riders will need to sign up at https://www.theuaetour.com/challenge/, and follow the steps indicated on screen to complete their registration in order to take part.

Those registered to the event will receive email reminders before the opening and closing period of each weekly challenge. Their best time for each challenge will then automatically be added to the event’s leaderboard.

While the UAE Tour wholeheartedly encourages citizens practicing fasting during the month of Ramadan to remain active and healthy, participants should be wary of overexertion during the challenge and should enjoy exercising at a sensible intensity.

Homaid Al Shimmari, deputy group CEO and chief corporate & human capital officer at Mubadala, said: “Through our partnership with UAE Tour, we aim to positively impact the community by offering them unique opportunities to get involved in sports and continue to lead an active lifestyle during this difficult period.

“The Mubadala Ramadan Virtual Challenge is aligned with our #WeAreDedicated campaign, Mubadala’s group wide response to the COVID-19 pandemic. It will not only offer cycling enthusiasts an opportunity to compete with others from around the world, but to also showcase our collective positive spirits during the holy month of Ramadan.”

Saeed Hareb, secretary general Dubai Sports Council, commented, “As one of the biggest international events in the UAE and the region, the UAE Tour is really proud to take the lead, alongside our very staunch UAE Tour partner Mubadala, and offer this wonderful new initiative to our community in the Holy Month of Ramadan.

“Cycling is one of the most popular sports and activity in the region, and indeed across the world, and the beauty of this sport is you do not have to be outdoors to compete against others. Now, thanks to technology, you can compete from the safety of your house.

“The world needs such pioneering initiatives in these times when the majority of its people are confined indoors. Staying healthy has become more imperative than ever because a healthy body means a strong immune system, and a strong immune system is your best defense against illness.

“Cycling, as I said, is one of the best exercises to stay fit and healthy, and I am looking forward to seeing all the member of our community take advantage of this wonderful initiative. And, there are also plenty of prizes to be won. So it’s a win-win for all participants.”

Aref Al Awani, general secretary of Abu Dhabi Sports Council, said they would continue to stage sports competitions remotely to encourage the community to lead an active lifestyle.

“We at the ADSC have attached great importance with our partners Dubai Sports Council and Mubadala to initiate the Virtual Emirates Cycling Tour challenge through modern technologies,” he said. “It is open for everyone to take part from their homes during the holy month of Ramadan.

“The UAE Tour is without any doubt is a popular social activity for cycling enthusiasts to challenge each other and at the same time improve their fitness levels through a healthy competition.

“We expect the Virtual Tour to attract large numbers and thank our strategic partner Mubadala for their continued support in community sports.” — SG