Release date: 22/09/2011 |    

Rider Acceptances for Abu Dhabi

It will be a thrilling conclusion to the Global Champions Tour in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates November. 24-26th.

The Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, is proving to be a big drawcard for the leading professional riders with the Grand Prix alone presenting 285,000 euros total prize money. The winner of the Grand Prix can expect to also take home a Reverso watch presented by Jaeger-LeCoultre, official partners and timekeepers of the series.

Photo right: Sergio Alvarez Moya (ESP) & Edwina Alexander (AUS) who took the top two placings of the Grand Prix of Cannes Fracne this year will both be competing in Abu Dhabi

The additional million euros, to be divided amongst the top 18 GCT ranked riders at the end of the season, sees riders jockeying for final ranking positions.

While the chase for the top cheque of 300,000 euros (of the 1 million bonus) will be fought out between Australian Edwina Alexander and Germany Ludger Beerbaum, most of the top listed world riders have accepted the invitation to compete in Abu Dhabi.

It is not possible for riders ranked below Edwina and Ludger to better their ranking to claim the top cheque.

A surprise omission from the Abu Dhabi starters is last year’s winner German Marcus Ehning who currently lays in 17th position on the GCT ranking.

Brazilian Rodrigo Pessoa, who is placed 12th will also be a no-show in Abu Dhabi.

Right: Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum(GER), who did not compete in Rio de Janeiro has accepted to ride in Abu Dhabi along with Gerco Schroder (NED) who won the Rio de Janeiro leg of the tour.

Newly crowned European Champion Rolf-Goran Bengtsson has also ticked the box for the Abu Dhabi event. Rolf has already won two Global Champions Tour Grand Prix's this year including Hamburg and Monaco.

Full List of rider acceptances – excluding the UAE national wildcard riders

Grand Prix point earnings 1st=40, 2nd 37, 3rd 35, 4th 33, 5th 32, 6th 31, 7th 30, 8th 29, 9th 28, 10th 27 etc

Current Top 20 GCT Ranking

Edwina Alexander               Australia                        238

Ludger Beerbaum               Germany                         218.50

Alvaro de Miranda Neto      Brazil                              194

Luciana Diniz                     Portugal                          192

Denis Lynch                       Ireland                             178

Rolf-Goran Bengtsson        Sweden                           172

Philipp Weishaupt               Germany                         171

Christian Ahlmann               Germany                        157

Marco Kutscher                   Germany                         150

Pius Schwizer                     Switerland                       145

Kevin Staut                          France                            143

Rodrigo Pessoa                   Brazil                               136

Clarissa Crotta                    Switzerland                     136

Billy Twomey                      Ireland                            131

Gerco Schroder                  Netherlands                    123

Judy-Ann Melchior             Belgium                          118

Marcus Ehning                    Germany                        116

Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum   Germany                  115

Laura Kraut                              USA                          112

Marc Houtzager                       Netherlands               85

Photo credits: Stefano Grasso/GCT