• Emirate wide initiative to provide free lessons for children
• In-schools program will reach over 2,000 kids across Abu Dhabi
• Community events expanding access to bikes, equipment, and coaching

News | Team – 3rd March 2025

Abu Dhabi, UAE – Sunday 23 February 2025 – UAE Team Emirates-XRG is proud to announce ADNOC as the presenting partner of its youth academy, which aims to develop grassroots cycling across the Emirate of Abu Dhabi and foster a new generation of young riders.

The UAE Team Emirates-XRG Academy, powered by ADNOC, was launched ahead of the UAE Tour’s penultimate stage in Abu Dhabi by team principal and CEO, Mauro Gianetti, Yousif Amin Yousef, Senior Vice President , Group Corporate Support at ADNOC, and Pablo Terra, Vice President, Group Strategic Investments, XRG along with riders from the UAE Team Emirates-XRG squad.

The academy, which is set to engage over 2,000 boys and girls aged 7-12 every year with in-school coaching, focuses on building essential cycling skills, coordination, confidence, and bike-handling abilities in a safe and supportive environment. In addition, the program will be taken into the community with a series of events across Abu Dhabi that will open up the sport to more young people.

As part of the launch event, 22 children from a selection of Abu Dhabi schools were invited to Hudayriat Island ahead of Stage 6 of the UAE Tour to participate in an introductory skills session aimed at developing confidence on the bike. The kids were then treated to a surprise and delight moment when World Champion Tadej Pogačar, along with the stars of UAE Team Emirates-XRG, turned up and joined in with the coaching clinic.

Mauro Gianetti, UAE Team Emirates-XRG Team Principal and CEO: “We are delighted to announce the launch of the UAE Team Emirates-XRG Academy, powered by ADNOC. We are committed to delivering excellence as a team with a concerted focus on creating a platform of opportunity for the next generation in Abu Dhabi. This program is incredibly special to us as a team, and we cannot wait to bring it to life and make cycling more accessible to kids of all ages across the emirate. To have ADNOC, a key partner of the team, alongside us for 2025 is incredible and I cannot wait to see the success of the program in the UAE.”

Tadej Pogačar, UCI Road World Champion and UAE Team Emirates-XRG Rider: “It’s a very special moment to see the academy launched for 2025. As a member of UAE Team Emirates-XRG, I feel incredibly proud of the work we continue to do to grow cycling across Abu Dhabi and the UAE each year. Seeing the joy and excitement our sport brings to young children across the region is amazing, and I can’t wait to see more boys and girls on bikes this year.”

Saif Al Falahi, ADNOC Executive Vice President, Group Business Support & Special Tasks: “ADNOC is delighted to partner with UAE Team Emirates-XRG on this academy which is set to nurture our young cyclists and strengthen community engagement across Abu Dhabi in the UAE Year of Community. This partnership reflects our commitment to supporting programs that empower lives and create positive, lasting socioeconomic impact. Cycling in the UAE goes beyond sport—it is a unifying force that brings people together, and we look forward to helping young riders develop their talent while promoting active, healthy lifestyles through the academy.'

By partnering with ADNOC, UAE Team Emirates-XRG strengthens its commitment to promoting active lifestyles and nurturing young talent within the community. Through expert coaching, structured programs, and accessible cycling initiatives, the academy will empower the next generation to embrace cycling as both a recreational activity and a way to continue to drive health and wellness across the region.