Abu Dhabi residents challenged to burn as many calories as an Olympic sailor

Mubadala’s Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, Healthpoint and Imperial College London Diabetes Centre have teamed up to offer a chance to burn 5,000 calories in a spinning class on the Corniche.

Leg 2 onboard Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing. Adil Khalid, left and Roberto "Chuny" Bermudez.

ABU DHABI // Five thousand. That's how many calories Emirati sailing Olympian Adil Khalid burns on a typical day aboard Azzam, Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing's 65-foot yacht now competing in the round-the-world Volvo Ocean Race.

Think you can match that? Mubadala’s Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, Healthpoint and Imperial College London Diabetes Centre have teamed up to provide a free opportunity to try.

The health organisations are hosting a public stationary cycling event at the VOR Stopover Destination Village on Abu Dhabi’s Corniche Breakwater to challenge participants to burn a combined 5,000 calories.

The complimentary daily spinning class allows up to 15 cyclists per class to pedal while being linked to Polar Beat heart-rate monitors, provided by Healthpoint, to try to collectively hit the same target number.

Fitness and lifestyle club The Room Abu Dhabi is offering the free classes every day beginning at 6pm.

Challenge participants, who must be at least 16 years old, can register for a class by emailing [e-mail]. Wednesday night courses will be for women only.

“These cycling classes encourage our community to engage in a healthy, active lifestyle,” said Dr Saf Naqvi, medical director of the Imperial College London Diabetes Centre. “We are proud to help show how daily exercise can be a fun, family event, while also helping to manage or even prevent diabetes and other illnesses.”

The VOR Stopover Destination Village continues until January 3 at the Corniche Breakwater.