Previewing the UAE Tour
On Monday 19th February, the UAE Tour returns for its 6th edition.
Spanning across the stunning landscapes of the United Arab Emirates, this prestigious race showcases the nation's commitment to hosting world-class sporting events. The 7 stage race incorporates flat stages, time trials, and mountain climbs, with the final stage, taking place on Jebel Hafeet likely to decide the winner of the General Classification.
UAE Team Emirates, who have won two of the previous 5 editions, have named a strong roster for their home race led by the in-form Adam Yates, who arrives at this race following victory at the Tour Of Oman looking to repeat his 2020 success.
The team comprises:
Mikkel Bjerg
A seasoned professional with an astounding three U23 World Championship victories in Time Trial. Mikkel’s experience will be valuable to the team on stage two - the team time trial on Al Hudayriyat Island.
Vegard Laengen
At 195 cm tall, he is the 3rd tallest rider in the World Tour peloton. An experienced member of the peloton who will be key to the teams success, both in the TTT and the flat (likely windy) stages.
Brandon McNulty
Brandon is a climber from the United States with a history of impressive results in the higher mountain stages of events including Giro D’Italia and Paris-Nice.
Sebastian Molano
The Colombian sprinter is the teams rider for the flat stages, he won the 5th stage of the 2023 edition of the UAE Tour finishing at Dubai Harbour, which follows a similar route to this year’s 4th stage.
Ivo Oliveira
The current Portuguese national champion is a time trialist and will be an integral part of the team's success with stage 2 providing an opportunity to open up time gaps early into the tour.
Jay Vine
The Australian climber won the 2023 Tour Down Under, and along with Brandon McNulty, will be a key ally to Adam Yates on the Tour’s final stage.
Adam Yates
Adam won the 2020 edition of the UAE Tour and will be looking to demonstrate his pedigree at this year’s event, he’s in fine form and will be a man to watch at this year’s event.
We would encourage anyone interested in watching the race to join us in one of the Official Fan Zones, located in Wolfi’s Dubai Sheikh Zayed Road, Wolfi’s Al Hudayriyat Island, Colnago Abu Dhabi and The Service Course Abu Dhabi
Stage 1: Burjeel Holdings Stage
Monday, 19th February 2024 | 143 km from Al Dhafra Walk to Liwa Palace
The stage of the desert. First part (north-south direction) of about 45 km along wide, straight roads. After reaching Liwa, the race will enter an area of very pronounced dunes, which make up the bulk of the stage. A series of ups and downs leads to Moreeb Dune, where the race will make two laps of the Moreeb Dune cycle path (18.1 km each lap) characterised by rather steep ups and downs with double digit gradients. It then returns to Liwa for the finish. The stage is on wide, straight roads with good pavement.
Stage 2: Presight Stage
Tuesday, 20th February 2024 | 12.1 km from Al Hudayriyat Island to
Al Hudayriyat Island
Stage 2 is an individual Time Trial that takes place entirely inside Al Hudayriyat Island. The route is very fast and is characterized only by a few right angle bends and two U-turns. The road is perfectly flat, wide and with wide-ranging turns, which will allow riders to hold very high speeds (wind permitting).
Stage 3: Ras Al Khaimah Stage
Wednesday, 21st February 2024 | 176 km from Al Marjan Island to Jebel Jais
The first of two mountain stages of the UAE Tour. The stage is divided into two distinct parts. The first approaches the final mountain undulating through the desert, while the last is characterized by approximately 20 km of continuous climbing up to the finish. Departure from Al Marjan Island to reach Ras al Khaimah and return to the desert. After the Ras al Khaimah airport, the race will head straight for Jais Mountain. The final climb of approximately 20 km at constant 5% gradient, with slightly higher gradients around 7% in the last 2 km.
Stage 4: Dubai Stage
Thursday, 22nd February 2024 | 173 km from Dubai Police Officer's Club To Dubai Harbour
A stage in Dubai. First part in Downtown Dubai with a passage around the Burj Khalifa before crossing Deira and skimming past the Big Flag. The race will head out of the city in the direction of the desert, passing the classic sites of these stages such as Al Qudra Cycletrack and Jumeirah islands. It then pass by Palm Jumeirah to finish in Dubai Harbour. The entire route winds along very wide, and substantially straight, roads interspersed with roundabouts that have a very large radius and are well paved.
Stage 5: Al Aqah Stage
Friday, 23rd February 2024 | 182 km from Al Aqah To Umm Al Quwain
Departing from Al Awah to reach Umm Al Quwain, the stage heads through the desert areas on the edge of the Hajar Mountains. Here it covers several stretches of motorway until reaching Umm al Quwain for the final sprint. The entire route takes place on wide, straight and well-paved roads through the desert.
Stage 6: Aldar Stage
Saturday, 24th February 2024 | 138 km from Louvre Abu Dhabi Museum To Abu Dhabi Breakwater
Stage around the city of Abu Dhabi. Departure is from Louvre Abu Dhabi where the first part of the route heads to Saadiyat Island and then to Yas Marina where the race continues westwards before re-entering the city through Khalifa City. Return to Abu Dhabi City and passage over Al Reem Island (Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi) and Al Maryah Island. Passing Qasr Al Hosn, the riders will approach the finale from the south to the north to finish at Abu Dhabi Breakwater.
Stage 7: International Holding Company Stage
Sunday, 25th February 2024 | 161 km from Bait Mohammed Bin Khalifa To Jebel Hafeet
The classic mountain stage of the UAE Tour. In the first part, the route winds its way through Al Ain, of which many of its landmarks are visited (Al Ain University, Al Qattara, Al Hili), and then takes a long tour of the desert to the west until it returns to Green Mubazzarah. Here the final climb of Jebel Hafeet begins, which with its 10 km section will be the final judge of the race.