Sheikh Hamdan sports Tour de France winning Colnago bicycle during health campaign

Dubai Crown Prince urges residents to get on their bikes and hit the streets this month

It is part of an approved Dh400 million strategy to make cycling safer in the emirate. WAM

The new track will connect the existing Jumeirah Street cycling track, parallel to the Dubai Water Canal, with the existing cycling track alongside Dubai Internet City. WAM

Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed with leaders of various companies on a 20km cycling tour of the Nad Al Sheba Sports Complex. Wam

RTA is seeking to further extend the total length of cycling tracks in Dubai to 739km by 2026. WAM

The November event was part of a corporate cycling trial for Dubai Fitness Challenge. Wam

The Crown Prince of Dubai also spoke about how sports and fitness was important in creating happy societies. Wam

Sheikh Hamdan talked to the business chiefs about overcoming current challenges. Wam

Sheikh Hamdan announced the construction of a cycling track extending 16km along Jumeirah Beach in Dubai. WAM

The Crown Prince of Dubai led business leaders on a bike ride as he urged the public to join him in a month-long fitness push.

Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed rode a bike by Italian company Colnago, which made the model used to win this year's Tour de France, as he accompanied 30 business leaders for a 20-kilometre tour of Nad Al Sheba Sports Complex.

He has long been a fan of cycling and the Italian hand-made brand, having shared a video of one he owned in 2018.

Sunday's event was part of a corporate cycling trial for Dubai Fitness Challenge, an event led by Sheikh Hamdan and which encourages residents to take part in 30 minutes of physical activity a day for 30 days.

The discussions focused on sport, which Sheikh Hamdan said was "directly linked to productive, healthy and happy societies", and Dubai's recovery from the coronavirus pandemic.

“We talked about ways to overcome current challenges through the flourishing partnership that has long connected Dubai to its private sector,” he wrote on Twitter.

“While discussing economic and business affairs is essential, the importance of sports and fitness cannot be ignored.

“Dubai has made sport a key part of its everyday life. We must continue to encourage this – it is directly linked to productive, healthy and happy societies.”

The business figures included venture capitalists, property developers and leaders of global tech companies, consultancies and retailers operating in the emirate.

The company that made Sheikh Hamdan's bike also has a local link.

An investment company in Abu Dhabi, Chimera Investments, acquired a majority stake in the high-end Italian racing bike manufacturer this year.

The bike maker, founded in 1954 by Italian entrepreneur and inventor Ernesto Colnago, has produced bikes that have won 62 world championships.

The most recent win came at the Tour de France in September, when Tadej Pogacar of UAE Team Emirates took the title.

The Dubai Fitness Challenge, now in its fourth year, runs until November 28.

It is offering more than 2,000 free fitness sessions, which are being held in person and online, owing to restrictions imposed because of the pandemic.

On Friday, Sheikh Zayed Road will close to traffic and transformed into a cycling track as part of the challenge.

Last week, Sheikh Hamdan urged people to join him in taking part.

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