The most recent World Championships, as well as the upcoming ones, have at least one thing in common – they do all but suit the sprinters. In fact, the fast men’s last opportunity dates back to the 2016 race in Doha, Qatar. Or alternatively a year later in Bergen, Norway. Both races were won by Peter Sagan, who is also the last member of the sprinters guild to have worn rainbow jersey, albeit the Slovak legend arguably had more perks than just a fast finish.

With the two upcoming World Championships set to take place in Montreal, Canada and the French Alps respectively, the odds of a potential bunch arrival are extremely slim until at the very least least 2028.


The situation very much saddened one of the three fastest men in the peloton and 2024 European Champion Tim Merlier. “Every generation of sprinters should have at least one decent shot at a world title,” he sighed in an interview on Het Laatse Nieuws. “Nothing wrong with a rainbow-colored battle tailored to the fast guys, right?”Abu Dhabi is no longer the destined land for sprinters

And what about the close-to-extinction clan of sprinters? Their eyes are pinned onto the 2028 World Championships. The race venue? Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Perfect setting for a completely flat race with only a possibility of echelons as the only challenge for all paricipants, right? Guess again.

“They’re working on it [an artificial hill]. Next to that circuit,” Merlier said more or less jokingly about the odds of a more undulating course in Abu Dhabi.

Besides the Yas Marina circuit, the former European champion says the local authorities are building a mountain “that we see growing in size every year in the UAE Tour.”

Marca dug up Merlier’s story and was able to provide further information. According to the Spanish outlet, a substantial hill is indeed being constructed. In fact, multiple obstacles are being built on Hudayriyat Island, but the Al Wathba hill is the most prominent. Construction of that hill began in 2023, and it featured a 1.4-kilometer climb at 6%.

For a regular cycling tourist a challenge, for professionals including sprinters, it’s not an obstacle that can decide a race on its own. However the Emirati country has thrown in another generous dose of sand. According to the Spanish newspaper, there will now be 2 kilometers of sloping asphalt, with a truly challenging final section of 500 meters at 11%.

When Pogacar accelerates on such gradients, the likes of Tim Merlier will be left far behind, eating the Slovenian’s dust. At the very least, neither of the terrifying Jebel’s (Jebel Hafeet and Jebel Jais) should be featured on the course.

“And besides, by then I’ll be close to 36. And undoubtedly a younger generation of sprinters will have emerged,” Merlier concludes with a realistic assessment of his chances for a potential world title.