Road · United Arab Emirates
Showka to Tunnel 1
A hilly 76 km road cycling loop from Showka, Ras Al Khaimah through Musseili, Munay and Minazif, with 1,023 m of climbing. Most of it (74.7 km) is on main roads without a cycle lane, 51.2 km where the limit is 80 km/h or more. The first 76 km has no café, shop or water.
At a glance
- Best for
- Short, climbing-heavy rides for confident riders at ease in traffic
- Distance
- 75.9 km
- Elevation gain
- 1,023 m
- Riding time
- 2½–3½ hours
- Difficulty
- Hard
- Bike
- Road bike
- Surface
- Paved
- Traffic
- Mostly main roads
- Food & water
- Longest gap 76 km
- Best months
- Dec to Feb
- Navigation
- GPX download
- Start and finish
- Showka
Map and elevation profile
Elevation profile
- 1,023 m
- 76 km
Route description
- Showka
- Musseili
- Munay
- Minazif
- Al Qilē'ī
- Showka
This 75.9 km loop starts and finishes at Showka in the Hajar Mountains, United Arab Emirates. The route passes through Musseili (4.5 km), Munay (29 km), Minazif (48 km), and Al Qilē'ī (49 km). The climb profile includes several moderate hills, with the highest point at 17.2 km reaching 489 m elevation. Significant climbs include a 2.9 km section averaging 3.7% and a 3.4 km section at 3.1% gradient early in the ride, plus shorter climbs ranging from 2.5% to 5.7% average gradients.
Why ride this route?
- Tops out at 489 m, 17.2 km in.
Highlights
- Highest point at 489 m near 17 km
- Climb of 2.9 km at 3.7% gradient
- Passes villages: Musseili, Munay, Minazif
- Peaks near road: Jabal Al Hinnah (637 m), Jabal Ash Shahayrah (532 m)
Along the route
Places passed
Climbs
| Climb | Starts at | On this ride | Top on this ride |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unnamed climb | 9.1 km | 2.9 km · 107 m · 3.7 % · max 5.4 % | 399 m |
| Unnamed climb | 13.8 km | 3.4 km · 106 m · 3.1 % · max 5.5 % | 489 m |
| Unnamed climb | 30.8 km | 1.9 km · 49 m · 2.5 % · max 3.9 % | 305 m |
| Unnamed climb | 35.8 km | 1.4 km · 81 m · 5.7 % · max 13.5 % | 314 m |
| Unnamed climb | 40.7 km | 1.4 km · 62 m · 4.3 % · max 12 % | 245 m |
| Unnamed climb | 43.1 km | 1.8 km · 67 m · 3.8 % · max 6.5 % | 229 m |
| Unnamed climb | 45.2 km | 1.9 km · 97 m · 5.2 % · max 8.5 % | 314 m |
| Unnamed climb | 49.1 km | 1.8 km · 67 m · 3.7 % · max 5.3 % | 307 m |
| Unnamed climb | 62 km | 5 km · 149 m · 3 % · max 8 % | 485 m |
Traffic, surface and gradient
This is not a cycle-track route: 98% is on main roads without a cycle lane, 51.2 km of it where the limit is 80 km/h or more. Riders should be comfortable sharing the road with faster traffic.
- Roads
- 86% motorway · 12% main road · 1% quiet street · 1% track
- Main roads
- 74.7 km on main roads without a cycle lane — likely busier
- Fast roads
- 51.2 km on roads with a limit of 80 km/h or more
- Main roads used
- Sharjah - Kalba Road (63 km)
- Surface
- Paved: 99% of the route is mapped as paved, 1% as unpaved.
- Gradient
- 28% climbing · 30% descending · 42% flat
- Steep sections
- 4.6 km over 5% · 1.3 km over 8% · 0.8 km over 10% · steepest 500 m averages 18% at 0 km
- Longest descent
- 4 km from 67.2 km, dropping 109 m
Food, water and services
The longest stretch without a café, shop or water is 76 km, from the start. Along the route: 2 public toilets and 1 bike shop.
Food, water and shops in ride order
- 62.2 kmToilets · 40 m off route
- 69.9 kmToilets · 30 m off route
- 75.5 kmShowka Bicycles · bike shop · 440 m off route
Start and access
At the start and finish
- Bikes and repair
- Showka Bicycles (580 m)
Know before you go
- Longest stretch with no café, shop or water: 75.7 km
- 74.7 km on main roads without cycle lanes
- 51.2 km on roads with speed limits of 80 km/h or more
- Steepest 500 m section at 18% gradient at start
