"We are at a turning point": Marc Madiot fears for cycling's future

The 2028 World Championships will, after 12 years, return to Middle East with a race set to take place in Abu Dhabi. The vicinity of United Arab Emirates capital is a desert without any significant paved climbs. This would normally prompt a notable excitement within the sprinters guild, however that is not the case at the moment.

When Tim Merlier jokingly threw it around in a chat with Jan Bakelants that UAE's government is building an artificial mountain of sand next to the predicted racing site, the remark wasn't taken too seriously. Except for MARCA, who run an investigation that confirmed Merlier's comments to have a real basis.

According to the Spanish newspaper, multiple obstacles are being built on Hudayriyat Island, but the Al Wathba hill is the most prominent. To the climbs' current 1.5 kilometers at 6% a truly challenging final section of 500 meters at 11% is being added as we speak.

"I'm not an environmental zealot, but there are still basic principles and fundamental rules to respect," the enfuriated team manager of Groupama - FDJ Marc Madiot told RMC. "Having a world championship there, why not? But if we get to this kind of situation, it's disastrous for our sport, and indirectly for others."

While not persay against an artificially adjusted course, the Frenchman sees a big issue with the trend of disappearing races designated to sprinters. However what is truly alarming is that a single rider's - Tadej Pogacar's - success is enough for organizers to bend backwards to please his rider profile.

"We are at a turning point in what sport should be or can still be," he continues. According to Madiot, it's the cycling stakeholders who should take action before routes and even entire landscapes are transformed only to please fans, or let alone favor a single cyclist.

"I think the International Federation and its president need to regain control of this type of situation. It's the UCI that awards the World Championships based on a set of specifications. I can't imagine the UCI accepting that an artificial obstacle is being created under the pretext of making the race harder, or even giving an advantage to a particular rider."