The UCI has confirmed that the 2028 UCI Cycling World Championships, to be held in the United Arab Emirates, will be designed for sprinters, dispelling concerns raised by a proposed artificial hill project. Fabrizio D’Amico, director of the UAE Tour, had revealed plans for an artificial hill near Hudayriyat Island in Abu Dhabi. However, UCI General Manager Peter Van Den Abeele clarified that the World Championships course will remain flat, aligning with UCI President David Lappartient's vision for a "sprinters' festival," the first since 2016. While the artificial hill project is confirmed, it is intended for recreational cyclists and tourists, not for the elite competition.