Al Qudra long loop

Route overview

Riders after distance without climbing: 72.3 km at 68 m of gain suits steady group riding and first long rides alike.

A flat 72.3 km loop from Dubai through the desert past Mugatrah, with just 68 m of climbing all told.

The loop starts and finishes in Dubai, with Spicy Village Restaurant at the 1 km mark the last thing listed before the desert section proper. The road drifts gently upwards over the opening 10 km to the highest point on the route, 95 m at km 10.7 "the only meaningful rise anywhere on the loop, and even that is measured in tens of metres rather than hundreds. From there the profile settles. Roughly 48% of the day's 68 m of climbing is banked in the first half, so the return leg is flatter still. The lowest point, 45 m, comes at km 49.1, leaving a total spread of just 50 m between the high and low points of a 72.3 km ride. There are no categorised climbs. The suburb of Mugatrah sits close to the road at km 56.3, after which the loop runs back towards Dubai. A drinking water point at km 70.9 is the only one recorded on the route, arriving with barely more than a kilometre left to ride.

Highlights

• High point of 95 m at km 10.7
• Mugatrah at km 56.3 on the return leg
• Only 68 m of climbing across 72.3 km

Practical information

Surface

Paved

Route shape

Loop

Riding time

2–3 hours riding

Season

Recordings run from February to November, with temperatures between 16°C and 32°C; the cooler end of that range falls in February, March and November.

Know before you go

• No water or food listed between km 1 and km 70.9 " carry everything
• Temperatures of up to 32°C recorded on this loop

Routes are for inspiration. Roads, surfaces and conditions change — check locally and ride within your limits.