Routes Unveiled for the Sixth Edition of the UAE Tour
The 2024 UAE Tour will set off on the 19th of February from Madinat Zayed to finish, after seven stages, on Jebel Hafeet. The route with two mountain-top finishes and one ITT is rounded out by four flat stages. Riders will compete for the race’s Red, Green, White, and Black jerseys – sponsored by International Holding Company, Nakheel, and Bin Hamoodah Auto respectively. The official jerseys will be provided by Alé.
The 2023 edition was won by former world champion Remco Evenepoel.
United Arab Emirates, 15 January 2024 – The official route, jerseys and sponsors for the fifth edition of the UAE Tour have been announced. The UAE Tour race organisers, Abu Dhabi Sports Council are pleased to confirm that this year’s edition of the race, starting and finishing in Abu Dhabi, will feature four sprinters’ stages, two mountain stages best suited to the peloton’s climbers, and a 12.1 km long, high-speed individual time trial.
From 19 to 25 February, the UAE Tour will feature over 980 km of racing across the seven stages. Four of them will be perfect opportunities for the sprinters who will have plenty of chances to fight for a prestigious win. Stage two will be a team time trial, and stages three and seven (the final day) will have summit finishes in the traditional climbs of Jebel Jais, where previous stage winners include Tadej Pogačar and Jonas Vingegaard, and Jebel Hafeet, an epic climb that has seen three stage victories for Tadej Pogačar in 2020, 2021 and 2022. The Slovenian was followed by his teammate Adam Yates in 2023, the year in which the general classification was won by former world champion Remco Evenepoel.
QUOTES
H.E. Aref Al Awani, General Secretary of Abu Dhabi Sports Council said: “The UAE Tour is the most prestigious cycling event in the Middle East and attracts the attention of top global brands and media outlets. We are confident that in 2024, we will be able to see a top-class event once again. If we look at the level of the winners, both in the general classification and in the single stages, we see the elite stars of world cycling, affirming the rapid growth of this project in so few years. Seeing the great champions of two wheels battle it out is a driver for the development of cycling in our country, and this is demonstrated by its growing popularity, which in turn popularizes a healthy lifestyle among all groups”.
Fabrizio D’Amico, Chief Operating Officer RCS Sports and Events and UAE Tour Director said: “We are ready for the sixth edition of the UAE Tour that has been made possible once again thanks to the leadership of the country, the Abu Dhabi Sports Council and all of our stakeholders who are committed in the delivery of the UAE Tour also in 2024. In these years we have seen stellar lineups of champions of the world of cycling taking the challenge across the seven stages and we are sure that in the next edition, we will see even more stars of the two wheels accepting this challenge. The route will offer chances for victory to every type of rider, with two uphill finishes and one individual time trial that will most likely make the general classification even if there will be tricks in every stage, as happened with the echelons stage in the last edition”.
THE ROUTE OF THE 6TH UAE TOUR
19.02.2024 Stage 1 Al Dhafra Walk Madinat Zayed-Liwa Palace, 143 KM
20.02.2024 Stage 2 Al Hudayriyat Island ITT, 12.1 KM
21.02.2024 Stage 3 Al Marjan Island-Jebel Jais, 176 KM
22.02.2024 Stage 4 Dubai Police Officer’s club-Dubai Harbour, 173 KM
23.02.2024 Stage 5 Al Aqah-Umm al Quwain, 182 KM
24.02.2024 Stage 6 Louvre Abu Dhabi Museum-Abu Dhabi Breakwater, 138 KM
25.02.2024 Stage 7 Al Ain Bait Mohammed Bin Khalifa-Jebel Hafeet, 161 KM
STAGE 1, AL DHAFRA WALK MADINAT ZAYED-LIWA PALACE, 143 KM
The route
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.
Final kilometres
Final route with one wide bend on roundabout. Final straight all uphill around 3%.
STAGE 2, AL HUDAYRIYAT ISLAND ITT, 12.1 KM
The route
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).
Final kilometres
Wide curves, wide road, excellent pavement. The finish line is on asphalt.
STAGE 3, AL MARJAN ISLAND-JEBEL JAIS, 173 KM
The route
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.
Final kilometres
The final climb winds through hairpin bends on a very wide roadway. Gradients are mainly around 4-5% in the first part and 5-7% in the second, with a peak of 9% around 2 km from the finish. The finish is on straight asphalt roads.
STAGE 4, DUBAI POLICE OFFICER’S CLUB-DUBAI HARBOUR, 171 KM
The route
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.
Final kilometres
The ending is on a wide avenue, with the arrival to the finish line on asphalt.
STAGE 5, AL AQAH-UMM AL QUWAIN, 182 KM
The route
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.
Final kilometres
The final km is on a wide avenue that is slightly curved. The arrival to the finish line is on asphalt.
STAGE 6, LOUVRE ABU DHABI MUSEUM-ABU DHABI BREAKWATER, 138 KM
The route
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.
Final kilometres
The last 5 km are on a wide road with large semi-curves that lead to the finish line on asphalt.
STAGE 7, AL AIN BAIT MOHAMMED BIN KHALIFA-JEBEL HAFEET, 161 KM
The route
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.
Final kilometres
The final climb winds through wide-ranging hairpin bends on a 3-lane roadway. Gradients are mainly around 8-9% with a peak of 11%, 3 km from the finish. There is a very short descent in the last km, before the last ramp. The finish line is on straight asphalt.
UAE TOUR OFFICIAL LEADER JERSEYS
The official race jerseys will be provided by Italian brand, Alé. The high-tech apparel lines offers functionality and an ergonomic fit for perfect aerodynamics. At the heart of Alé is all-Italian craftsmanship. Using the insights and input from designers, pro teams and riders, the Alé R&D lab continuously studies materials and develops innovative solutions to guarantee the best performance with maximum comfort.
Red Jersey
General Classification: worn daily, starting from Stage 2, by the leader of the General Classification by time.
Sponsor: International Holding Company
Green Jersey
Points Classification: worn daily, starting from Stage 2, by the fastest sprinter, who has obtained the best positions in each stage and intermediate sprints.
White Jersey
Young Rider Classification: worn daily, starting from Stage 2, by the best young rider (U25) in the overall classification by time.
#UAETOUR
www.theuaetour.com