This end-of-season celebration of the year’s greatest achievements in professional cycling will happen on 18 October.

It occurs two days before the Abu Dhabi Tour, the four-stage professional cycling race organised by the UAE capital’s sports council.

“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,” said His Excellency Aref Al Awani, Abu Dhabi Sports Council’s general secretary.

“ With three main cycling events in the same week, the Abu Dhabi Tour will be in the spotlight of the entire sports world.”

Prizes will be awarded to athletes who have distinguished themselves throughout the season.

The UCI Cycling Gala will also be the official debut of the newly-crowned UCI Road World Champion, who will have earned the title just two days earlier, on 16 October.

“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,” added UCI President Brian Cookson.

“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.”