![The Sheikh Zayed Road turned into a cycling track for the Dubai Ride challenge. Courtesy: Jeremy Paul de Jesus](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/NQZYOB7LLM7S77L3BDWOY5UOUA.jpg?smart=true&auth=94efe332b04c14ce7d19ff4939936231a7b3e2d849ea4fd002ab0ee8190b46ac&width=400&height=225)
![Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai, participates in the Dubai Ride Challenge in November 2020.](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/B5KZTVRPRGBYWGVMWT7W43DKIU.jpg?smart=true&auth=e28ad775b4f6fdce95560a2563154261c0a556a59202fb73200a8d5f80384af7&width=400&height=225)
![Sheikh Hamdan led from the front as Sheikh Zayed Road was closed to traffic.](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/2JWNTXI55TH3IZY3IBB4PER3LQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=228587988cd675f293fa460282a81ee92b2791dc73c541fcf359f70220005b9a&width=400&height=225)
![The Dubai Ride challenge took cyclists past major Dubai landmarks, such as the Museum of the Future, which Sheikh Hamdan passes here.](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/LSY6QWG5KUNPYSVV2IAUB3MIZA.jpg?smart=true&auth=8a0e68dc3ff5df95eda84979639d4b1c8a459e76d3c5cf7eef489a86cc745043&width=400&height=225)
![Sheikh Hamdan with other cyclists. Karim Sahib / AFP](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/V5ECRN33MDJP2HY3QAHK3QN3ZI.jpg?smart=true&auth=87d223cd8e3d02829ca7be52cd500d6fff8b233d4be3e5df34748dca2457b590&width=400&height=225)
![People take to the Sheikh Zayed Road for the Dubai Ride. Karim Sahib / AFP](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/NH2QVIHU6JY3RZQX2LJOYKQPAA.jpg?smart=true&auth=5ea3ceb3e1b541f5a5a5a07948081c28901df1015cfbd7bc118b7206f0c1de20&width=400&height=225)
![The free event is part of the Dubai Fitness Challenge. Karim Sahib / AFP](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/MZZ5AKXZX4RB7AKNNAJ4I3IAFY.jpg?smart=true&auth=05fddd623cfe576438809c0a3c4d255d3c5b7ef27b20f2087684cab396d8e9d1&width=400&height=225)
![It was the first time the Sheikh Zayed Road was closed off for such an event. Karim Sahib / AFP](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/GRRDDUCVD4YVAQ2WUZVQ63UUOA.jpg?smart=true&auth=090fe5ed59de2f00b746d9b1f31f336faffe40830aea541a94b26bf885be515c&width=400&height=225)
![Dubai residents carry the UAE flag as they ride on the Sheikh Zayed Road. Karim Sahib / AFP](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/ZMLJNKZALC232VCQ2R4D7ZJX4Y.jpg?smart=true&auth=7fb3c90b0ae1db379a4a5c97d5d08ab4d203bdb8aebcb503eacf2abfd2c39865&width=400&height=225)
![The event was led by Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai. Karim Sahib / AFP](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/ULTQECR4UYMKMIVTA3FT4OD3A4.jpg?smart=true&auth=611db6eff0e93c35241e6ed4dfa2fcf36658fbc2843e058436debe7220828716&width=400&height=225)
![Sheikh Hamdan, centre right in blue with headlights on, takes part. Karim Sahib / AFP](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/QSRJWJBVRW4AHAC7SM2JSCCMZA.jpg?smart=true&auth=fd5baeba727a8c5741b1be8643ce5d9156b39c02896b4013480cfb4f5ac5cb5f&width=400&height=225)
![The event began in the early hours of Friday. Karim Sahib / AFP](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/GAXRDGBKEAGGNZHKAP4UPEL7P4.jpg?smart=true&auth=5e43269d4e27719ac83f261dbe6cef4bd39009b8b63454170d255a0ee37967cd&width=400&height=225)
![Thousands of cyclists took part. Karim Sahib / AFP](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/VPULHOBMSS6YXFARXSEACQXALM.jpg?smart=true&auth=351a2ab977acb4f4bcdc9dd4cfdbfd9a94ae7299bcb2ed231a62c110d9c4c00e&width=400&height=225)
![Cyclists passed Dubai landmarks such as Burj Khalifa. Karim Sahib / AFP](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/C52LF57YVXSKEC6UKX6CZHYE2U.jpg?smart=true&auth=a1764083d5e89e09b53f98d422020646880120c58f6fb7eae9d2ea5175974ed1&width=400&height=225)
![Dubai has been encouraging more people to use bikes. Karim Sahib / AFP](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/III6QB6NQC6VEMMTBH45AVAPDE.jpg?smart=true&auth=204c89af5d2bef43bb61250ee67b91b6e952e9480930d1cf1fb03c3f4d353ef1&width=400&height=225)
![The roads were blocked off for hours. Karim Sahib / AFP](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/QEXY4EXCNC3PJHMCFXIZFSUFUY.jpg?smart=true&auth=3b1bfeda20333a8576aa48c454ea165f93639e23b3270e7ae696e9124b520e17&width=400&height=225)
![The Sheikh Zayed Road turned into a cycling track for the Dubai Ride challenge. Courtesy: Jeremy Paul de Jesus](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/NQZYOB7LLM7S77L3BDWOY5UOUA.jpg?smart=true&auth=94efe332b04c14ce7d19ff4939936231a7b3e2d849ea4fd002ab0ee8190b46ac&width=400&height=225)
![Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai, participates in the Dubai Ride Challenge in November 2020.](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/B5KZTVRPRGBYWGVMWT7W43DKIU.jpg?smart=true&auth=e28ad775b4f6fdce95560a2563154261c0a556a59202fb73200a8d5f80384af7&width=400&height=225)
![Sheikh Hamdan led from the front as Sheikh Zayed Road was closed to traffic.](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/2JWNTXI55TH3IZY3IBB4PER3LQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=228587988cd675f293fa460282a81ee92b2791dc73c541fcf359f70220005b9a&width=400&height=225)
![The Dubai Ride challenge took cyclists past major Dubai landmarks, such as the Museum of the Future, which Sheikh Hamdan passes here.](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/LSY6QWG5KUNPYSVV2IAUB3MIZA.jpg?smart=true&auth=8a0e68dc3ff5df95eda84979639d4b1c8a459e76d3c5cf7eef489a86cc745043&width=400&height=225)
![Sheikh Hamdan with other cyclists. Karim Sahib / AFP](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/V5ECRN33MDJP2HY3QAHK3QN3ZI.jpg?smart=true&auth=87d223cd8e3d02829ca7be52cd500d6fff8b233d4be3e5df34748dca2457b590&width=400&height=225)
![People take to the Sheikh Zayed Road for the Dubai Ride. Karim Sahib / AFP](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/NH2QVIHU6JY3RZQX2LJOYKQPAA.jpg?smart=true&auth=5ea3ceb3e1b541f5a5a5a07948081c28901df1015cfbd7bc118b7206f0c1de20&width=400&height=225)
![The free event is part of the Dubai Fitness Challenge. Karim Sahib / AFP](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/MZZ5AKXZX4RB7AKNNAJ4I3IAFY.jpg?smart=true&auth=05fddd623cfe576438809c0a3c4d255d3c5b7ef27b20f2087684cab396d8e9d1&width=400&height=225)
![It was the first time the Sheikh Zayed Road was closed off for such an event. Karim Sahib / AFP](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/GRRDDUCVD4YVAQ2WUZVQ63UUOA.jpg?smart=true&auth=090fe5ed59de2f00b746d9b1f31f336faffe40830aea541a94b26bf885be515c&width=400&height=225)
![Dubai residents carry the UAE flag as they ride on the Sheikh Zayed Road. Karim Sahib / AFP](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/ZMLJNKZALC232VCQ2R4D7ZJX4Y.jpg?smart=true&auth=7fb3c90b0ae1db379a4a5c97d5d08ab4d203bdb8aebcb503eacf2abfd2c39865&width=400&height=225)
![The event was led by Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai. Karim Sahib / AFP](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/ULTQECR4UYMKMIVTA3FT4OD3A4.jpg?smart=true&auth=611db6eff0e93c35241e6ed4dfa2fcf36658fbc2843e058436debe7220828716&width=400&height=225)
![Sheikh Hamdan, centre right in blue with headlights on, takes part. Karim Sahib / AFP](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/QSRJWJBVRW4AHAC7SM2JSCCMZA.jpg?smart=true&auth=fd5baeba727a8c5741b1be8643ce5d9156b39c02896b4013480cfb4f5ac5cb5f&width=400&height=225)
![The event began in the early hours of Friday. Karim Sahib / AFP](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/GAXRDGBKEAGGNZHKAP4UPEL7P4.jpg?smart=true&auth=5e43269d4e27719ac83f261dbe6cef4bd39009b8b63454170d255a0ee37967cd&width=400&height=225)
![Thousands of cyclists took part. Karim Sahib / AFP](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/VPULHOBMSS6YXFARXSEACQXALM.jpg?smart=true&auth=351a2ab977acb4f4bcdc9dd4cfdbfd9a94ae7299bcb2ed231a62c110d9c4c00e&width=400&height=225)
![Cyclists passed Dubai landmarks such as Burj Khalifa. Karim Sahib / AFP](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/C52LF57YVXSKEC6UKX6CZHYE2U.jpg?smart=true&auth=a1764083d5e89e09b53f98d422020646880120c58f6fb7eae9d2ea5175974ed1&width=400&height=225)
![Dubai has been encouraging more people to use bikes. Karim Sahib / AFP](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/III6QB6NQC6VEMMTBH45AVAPDE.jpg?smart=true&auth=204c89af5d2bef43bb61250ee67b91b6e952e9480930d1cf1fb03c3f4d353ef1&width=400&height=225)
![The roads were blocked off for hours. Karim Sahib / AFP](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/QEXY4EXCNC3PJHMCFXIZFSUFUY.jpg?smart=true&auth=3b1bfeda20333a8576aa48c454ea165f93639e23b3270e7ae696e9124b520e17&width=400&height=225)
![The Sheikh Zayed Road turned into a cycling track for the Dubai Ride challenge. Courtesy: Jeremy Paul de Jesus](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/NQZYOB7LLM7S77L3BDWOY5UOUA.jpg?smart=true&auth=94efe332b04c14ce7d19ff4939936231a7b3e2d849ea4fd002ab0ee8190b46ac&width=400&height=225)
Sheikh Hamdan leads from the front as Dubai's Sheikh Zayed Road turns into a cycle track
Thousands of cyclists - including football legend Luis Figo - enjoy a rare moment to enjoy the busy motorway without traffic
The National
November 22, 2020
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