Al Qudra stick and loop

Route overview

Riders of any level looking for a steady 52 km on entirely flat ground, and anyone wanting to hold a constant pace without interruption.

A flat 52 km loop out of Dubai across the Al Qudra desert, with barely 2 m between the route's highest and lowest points.

The ride begins on the outskirts of Dubai at about 198 m and rises to its high point of 200 m within the first kilometre here in contained in those 2 m: the profile is otherwise level, with no recorded climbing across the full 52 km. From there the stick runs out into open desert before the loop proper. The suburb of Mugatrah lies just under 600 m off the route at the 36 km mark, the only settlement close enough to note. The return leg brings the loop back towards the start, and at 50.6 km there is a restaurant, Spicy Village Restaurant, with drinking water at the same point the single supply stop recorded on the whole circuit. With no gradient to break the rhythm, this is a ride about pace rather than terrain. Speed is set by the wind and the heat rather than by the road, and the near-total absence of elevation change means the effort is continuous from start to finish.

Highlights

• 52 km loop with no recorded climbing at all
• Open desert riding past the suburb of Mugatrah
• Restaurant and drinking water at 50.6 km

Practical information

Surface

Paved

Route shape

Loop

Riding time

1½–2 hours riding

Season

Recordings span January, March to July and September to December, with temperatures from 15 \u00b0C to 35 \u00b0C; the cooler end of that range falls in the winter months.

Know before you go

• No water or food listed until 50.6 km carry everything you need
• Temperatures up to 35 \u00b0C recorded on this route

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