For its second edition, the UCI Cycling Gala will again take place in Abu Dhabi, hosted by the Abu Dhabi Sports Council and the United Arab Emirates Cycling Federation, in collaboration with RCS Sport.

This end-of-season celebration of the year’s greatest achievements in professional road cycling will take place on October 18th, two days before the Emirates’ four-stage professional cycling race, the Abu Dhabi Tour (October 20-23), and a few hours after the 2017 Tour de France route presentation.

Awards will be presented to athletes who have distinguished themselves throughout the season in, among others, the UCI WorldTour, the UCI Women's WorldTour, the three Grand Tours and the UCI Road World Championships.

The full list of awards will be revealed in due course.

Following on the great success of last year’s maiden event, the UCI, the Abu Dhabi Sports Council and the United Arab Emirates Cycling Federation are looking forward to welcoming the very best of professional road cycling for an evening of celebration and sportsmanship.

UCI President Brian Cookson said: “I am pleased that the UCI Cycling Gala returns to Abu Dhabi and I am thankful to the Abu Dhabi Sports Council and the United Arab Emirates Cycling Federation for their support. Just days after the UCI Road World Championships in Doha, Qatar, and on the eve of the Abu Dhabi Tour, we could not have found a better moment to celebrate the very best of men and women’s road cycling in 2016.”

His Excellency Aref Al Awani, Abu Dhabi Sports Council’s General Secretary said: “We are honoured to host the UCI Cycling Gala again. It will be a fantastic celebration of this year’s cycling season while honouring the champions in their long ride to Abu Dhabi. With three main cycling events in the same week, the Abu Dhabi Tour will be in the limelight of the entire sports world.”