Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Friday 5th May 2022:  Aldar, in partnership with UAE Team Emirates, has begun the rollout of the Youth Cycling Academy Program across schools in Abu Dhabi. The initiative is striving to get more young children on bicycles to enhance their skills, become more road aware and safety driven, and ultimately instill a culture of health and fitness in the UAE’s stars of tomorrow.

 

Over the past two weeks, the program has reached 500 eager young cyclists who will become more accomplished as the weeks go on. This incredible exposure for the younger generation will allow them to spend time outside the classroom developing their cycling aptitude and potentially unearth hidden cycling talents. Furthermore, it will allow the children to engage in functional social activities with kids of a similar age, become more safety-focused on a bike, and maintain an active and healthy lifestyle. 

 

As well as putting in the hard yards on the saddle across the week, the kids were also keen to demonstrate their support for UAE Team Emirates in the upcoming Giro d’Italia race, starting today. 150 children were seen donning pink t-shirts in a show of support for the riders in the lead up to the highly anticipated Grand Tour event. The 3,445km, 21-stage race is one of the most prestigious on the racing calendar, coupled with the Tour De France and Vuelta a España.

 

UAE Team Emirates are determined to increase the opportunities afforded to young children across the UAE on the saddle alongside high-quality coaching. This partnership with Aldar will provide the UAE’s future stars with an incredible opportunity that hasn’t been afforded to anybody that has come before them.  

 

Joao Almeida, UAE Team Emirates Cyclist:

“The growth of Cycling across the UAE has been amazing over the last few years, and the rollout of the Youth Academy will enhance that growth. Giving young children the chance to get on the bike and develop their skills is so important in getting them to stay active, as well as teaching them valuable lessons and life skills. As a team, we feel so proud to represent the UAE on the global stage, so the launch of the Youth Academy with Aldar will further promote cycling across the region.”