The season-ending 2007 Abu Dhabi Race of Champions has been suspended, organisers Unipublic have stated.

The new race was scheduled to take place at the end of the cycling season in November, with the best riders and teams from all over the world taking part. A $1 million prize had been up for grabs.

The suspension was "due to the repeated failures to meet contract provisions by Kenzay, the company in charge of the local logistics of the competition in the United Arab Emirates," Unipublic, the Vuelta a Espana organisers, said.

"Unipublic maintains its interest in organising the Race of Champions but considers that the conditions for putting on a sporting event of this magnitude are not in place and therefore decides to temporarily delay it until all necessary requirements are met."

The race is planned to comprise three stages over three days: a 90 km flat stage, a 90 km mountain stage, and, after a rest day an individual time trial stage over 20 km.

Nine teams of eight riders would be allowed to compete including the winning riders and teams of the Tour de France, the Giro d'Italia and the Vuelta a Espana.

Reuters