The world's elite riders compete for the title of the sixth edition of the UAE Tour 2024

The sixth edition of the UAE Cycling Tour, the only global race in the Middle East, will begin tomorrow, Monday, February 19, 2024, on the agenda of the International Cycling Federation, and organized by the Abu Dhabi Sports Council, with the participation of the world’s elite riders, in continuation of the successes achieved by the Tour over five previous editions. It continues until February 25th.
The tour will be held in seven stages for a total distance of 985 km. The race route consists of four fast stages, two mountain stages, in addition to an (against the clock) stage on Al Hudayriat Island, extending for a distance of 12.1 km.
140 of the world's elite cyclists will participate in the competition, representing 20 teams: Emirates (UAE), Decathlon AG2R La Mondial (France), Astana (Kazakhstan), Bahrain Victorious (Bahrain), Bora Hansgrohe (Germany). Albaycin Dequinc (Belgium), Cofidis (France), EF Education (America), Intermarche Wonte (Belgium), Eneos Grenadiers (UK), Lidl Trek (America), Visma (Netherlands), Quick Step (Belgium), Movistar (Spain) ).
The first stage of the Emirates Tour (Burjeel Holding Stage), which is 141 kilometers long, will start from Al Dhafra Walk in Madinat Zayed in the Al Dhafra region, on Monday, February 19, at one o’clock and five minutes in the afternoon, arriving at Liwa, while the second stage (Briseit Stage) will be held. On Tuesday, on Al Hudayriat Island, with an individual time trial (ITT) system for a distance of 12.1 km, then the third stage of the Emirates Tour (Ras Al Khaimah stage), which has a distance of 176 km, begins from Al Marjan Island in the Emirate of Ras Al Khaimah, on Wednesday, February 21, at 11:00. Ten and twenty-five minutes, until the summit of Jebel Jais, followed by the fourth stage (Dubai Stage), which is 175 km long on Thursday, February 22, which starts at twelve-thirty in the afternoon, from the Dubai Police Officers Club, all the way to Dubai Harbour.
The fifth stage of the Emirates Tour (Al Aqah stage), which is 182 km long, begins on Friday, February 23, from Al Aqah in the Emirate of Fujairah, at twelve-fifteen in the afternoon, arriving in Umm Al Quwain, and the next day, Saturday, February 24, the sixth and penultimate stage begins. From the Emirates Tour (Al Dar Stage), which is 138 km long, from the Louvre Museum on Saadiyat Island, all the way to the breakwater on the Abu Dhabi Corniche.
The Emirates Tour train will reach its last station on Sunday, February 25, in the seventh and final stage (the International Holding Company stage), which is a distance of 161 km, from the house of Mohammed bin Khalifa, at twelve-fifteen in the afternoon, arriving at the summit of Jebel Hafeet at around four-thirty in the evening. .
Today, Sunday, the Abu Dhabi Sports Council, the organizing body for the Tour, held a press conference at the Colnago store on Al Hudayriat Island in Abu Dhabi, in the presence of a group of the most prominent riders participating in the Tour.
British Adam Yates is one of the most prominent riders nominated to compete for the title of the sixth edition. He leads the Emirates Team this year. He was crowned champion of the UAE Tour in 2020. He also won two stages of the Tour, including the Jebel Hafeet stage last year, and came second in the overall standings of the Tour. In two previous versions.
Yates said: “The UAE Tour is extremely important because it is held in the team’s homeland and among its fans, so the title is a primary goal for the team, and I look forward to leading the team to the podium and winning the title for the Emirates for the third time.”
He added: “The Tour includes various stages and good tracks, and our team includes a wonderful group of riders in different disciplines, and we have proven our superior capabilities in previous participations, which we look forward to continuing. It will not be easy this year and there are very difficult stages. We will try to repeat our victory as happened in the last two years.” ".
The veteran cyclist, British Mark Cavendish (38 years old), returns to participate again in the UAE Tour, after returning from his decision to retire, as he is the world champion on the road in 2011, and he won 34 stages in the international Tour de France, and 17 stages in the Tour of Italy, and also climbed... On the podium at the UAE Tour and winning a stage in 2022.
Cavendish said: "I have a close connection with the United Arab Emirates since I participated in the Dubai and Abu Dhabi international tours. I feel happy whenever I participate here in the tour, and the UAE Tour has become a global tour due to the presence of the best teams and riders since its inception."
Cavendish, who is in his 18th professional season, added: “I love cycling, and I have not lost the drive or motivation to participate in races, and I consider myself one of the luckiest people to practice cycling as an enjoyable profession. I aspire to compete and win in the Tour this year, and any cyclist gains confidence once he wins any race.” "At any stage in any race he enters, it is important that we provide a comprehensive performance as a team."
Dutchman Dylan Groenwegen of the Jayco AlUla team, winner of two stages in the UAE Tour in 2020 and 2023, confirmed that his health condition has improved after the illness that struck him during his participation in the AlUla Tour in Saudi Arabia recently.
He said: “Starting in the first stage is important, and we look forward to providing a distinguished performance in the UAE Tour, despite the intensity of competition and the expected winds.”
Spaniard Pilo Bilbao, rider of the Bahrain Victorious team and one of the competitors nominated to win one of the mountain stages, considered the UAE Tour one of the most difficult races and I always love challenges, especially since I achieved third place in the Tour two years ago. He said: “I have good memories here, perhaps my focus is on the Jebel Jais stages.” And Jebel Hafeet, which I think is more suitable for me. Of course, we will go through some difficulties and risks, but I am ready to take on the challenge.”
It is worth noting that Slovenian Primoz Roglic was the first to win the UAE Tour in 2019,Briton Adam Yates won the title in 2020, Slovenian Tade Pogacar, UAE Team star, won the title in 2021 and 2022, and Belgian Remco Evenpoel in 2023.