Jim Cotton

A big sandy mountain is growing in the Emirati skyline that’s got Tadej Pogačar’s name written all over it.

Well not literally, but sort of.

Authorities in the UAE are building up an artificial hill that will have risen hundreds of meters high by 2028 – right in time for Abu Dhabi to host the UCI road world championships.

In fact, the “Al Wathba Mountain” is only one of a number of hillocks rising into the UAE’s sand ‘n’ skyscraper landscape. A series of smaller hills are also being developed in the nearby Hudayriyat sports parks.

The emergence of these artificial dunes outside Abu Dhabi is already causing consternation among the peloton’s sprinters.

The UAE worlds had been touted as the first chance for a fastman to win a rainbow jersey in a decade.

“They are working on it,” Belgium’s alpha sprinter Tim Merlier told Het Laatste Nieuws of the Al Wathba. “Every year we see it growing in size at the UAE Tour.”

And guess what?

A “mountainous” parcours in Abu Dhabi would be perfect for Tadej “I’ve got a $50 million contract funded by the UAE” Pogačar.

Sprinters are despairing, Pogačar is salivating

There are no hints at the courses for the Abu Dhabi worlds this far out from the championships. The 2028 road race could be a pan-flat sprint fest.

Or it could, of course, take a detour into the newly constructed “Abu Dhabi Alps.”

And for Merlier and the fast-finishers, these sandy mounds truly might as well be the Glandon and Galibier.

Strapping speedsters won’t stand a chance against the likes of Pogačar and Remco Evenepoel if they get sent loopy over repeat circuits of an oversized dune.

“Every generation of sprinters should get at least one real chance at a world title. I fear that chance will never come for me,” said Merlier, who’s already 33 years old.

And you gotta feel for Merlier.

He does have a point.

The peloton’s sprinters have already been waiting since Doha in 2016 for their chance at a rainbow jersey.

The puncheur’s championships next year in Montréal, and the vert-loaded course in Sallanches 2027, certainly don’t do them any favors either.

Oh, and guess who’s already being touted as a favorite for both? You got it.

From climate control to Pogačar’s world championship climb?

And no, this whole story isn’t something invented by the Tin Foil Hat Brigade.

The Al Wathba artificial mountain is definitely a “thing.”

Abu Dhabi’s sand-berg was first constructed in the bid to promote rainfall via the movement of damp air off of the nearby Persian Gulf.

Since then, it seems to have become a destination for tourists who’ve gotten bored with shopping, sunbathing, and riding on camels.

“Wathba Artificial Hill is a striking tourist attraction located in the serene landscapes of Abu Dhabi,” praises travel and events company Evendo.

“This unique site is known for its man-made hill, which beautifully blends with the natural surroundings, providing a picturesque escape from the bustling city life. As you arrive, you’ll be greeted by sweeping vistas of the surrounding desert and the soft hues of the evening sun setting over the horizon, creating an idyllic backdrop for memorable photographs.”

The site has hosted the “Al Wathba Hill Challenge” running race, and is used as a focal point for paragliding activities.

According to Spanish outlet MARCA, Al Wathba has become so popular that it’s set to grow even faster than Pogačar’s bank balance.

“The Al Wathba climb began almost as an afterthought in 2023. A 1.4km climb with an average gradient of around 6 percent and the occasional ramp approaching 9 percent. By 2026, the hill will measure 2km and accumulate 92 meters of elevation gain. It will truly become steep in the final 500 meters, where it reaches around 11 percent,” MARCA reported.

“According to internal documents from the emirate consulted by civil engineering companies, the plan is to complete a much more challenging climb by 2028. It will be approximately 3.8km long, with an average gradient of around 6.5 percent and a final section reaching nearly 11 percent for a kilometer. The last 250 meters could even reach 13 percent,” MARCA wrote this week.

Pogačar is probably helping drive all the sand to the construction site to make sure it happens.