Taking place in Abu Dhabi, the event aims to celebrate the achievements of cyclists throughout the professional road cycling season.

For the second straight year Sagan took to the stage as the men’s world champion, having become only the sixth man to defend the title by out-sprinting Britain’s Mark Cavendish at the Championships in Doha on Sunday (October 16). 

The Slovakian star, who opted to dress extravagantly for the occasion, was also the winner of the UCI WorldTour individual classification after a superb season of success.

Dideriksen was also honoured after the 20-year-old’s surprise victory at the World Championships, while the United States’ Megan Guarnier was celebrated having won the inaugural season of the UCI Women’s WorldTour.

The UCI Cycling Gala was organised for the second successive year by the Abu Dhabi Sports Council and the United Arab Emirates Cycling Federation, ahead of the four stage Abu Dhabi Tour.

The race will become part of the expanded men’s UCI WorldTour in 2017.

"It has been a standout professional road season for both men and women, not least with the Olympic Games, Paralympic Games and the inaugural edition of the UCI Women’s WorldTour," said Brian Cookson, UCI President.

"The UCI Cycling Gala gives us the opportunity to celebrate the magnificent performances from what has been a memorable season.

"The festivities take place at an ideal moment in the season, just days after the UCI Road World Championships in Doha, Qatar, which hosted the discipline’s first Worlds in the Middle East, and on the eve of the Abu Dhabi Tour."

Newly crowned time trial world champions Tony Martin of Germany and the United States’ Amber Neben were also recognised during the evening, along with the Olympic gold medallists in the discipline, Fabian Cancellara of Switzerland and American Kristin Armstrong.

Olympic road race gold medallists Greg Van Avermaet of Belgium and The Netherlands’ Anna van der Breggen also featured, along with Paralympic champions and winners of the UCI team classifications throughout the season.

"We were honoured to host the UCI Cycling Gala once again and pay tribute to the incredible performances of male and female road cyclists," said Aref Al Awani, Abu Dhabi Sports Council’s general secretary.

"It was a fantastic celebration of this year’s road cycling season.

"With three major cycling events in the same week in the Middle East, we are very much looking forward to Abu Dhabi being in the global cycling and sporting spotlight."