The basics
What is it? The Abu Dhabi Tour is the first international cycling race to be held in Abu Dhabi. The race is being organised by the Abu Dhabi Sports Council in association with the UAE Cycling Federation and RCS Sports and Events.
When it is? The tour is set to start on Thursday, October 8 and ends on Sunday, October 11.
Where is it? The race will cover routes across Abu Dhabi, spanning 555 kilometres completed in four stages.
Teams There are 18 teams of which two teams, Dubai Sky Dive and UAE National Team, represent the UAE. Each team will have six riders, making a total of 108 riders competing for the various titles. For the full list of teams, see here.
| Team Name | Country | Team Name | Country |
|---|---|---|---|
| BMC Racing Team | USA | Etixx-Quick Step | Belgium |
| Tinkoff-Saxo | Russia | Team Giant-Aplecin | German |
| Orica Greenedge | Australia | Team Sky | Great Britain |
| Astana Pro Team | Kazakhstan | Movistar Team | Spain |
| Team Katusha | Russia | Lampre-Merida | Italy |
| Drapac | Australia | Colombia | Colombia |
| Bora-Argon 18 | Germany | MTN_QHUBEKA | Russia |
| Team Wiggins | United Kingdom | UnitedHealthcare | USA |
| Dubai Sky Dive | UAE | UAE National Team | UAE |
Stages and routes
There are four stages in the race.
The ADNOC stage This stage maps across the Rub Al Khali desert of western Abu Dhabi and will start among the red sand dunes that surround the Qasr al Sarab Resort. The route for the first stage extends over 174 kilometres which includes 1200 metres of near-vertical climbing, straight routes and slight downhill gradients. A mass sprint is expected.
The Capital stage Riders will race for 129 kilometres across Abu Dhabi, starting at the Yas Marina circuit heading towards the southern part of the city where the landscape is largely flat with wide straight roads. The finish line is positioned next to Yas Mall.
The Al Ain stage Starting at the Al Qattara Souq, this is expected to be the toughest stage of the tour with a final climb up Jebel Hafeet. The ascent of 11 kilometres up the mountain reaches an altitude of 1200 metres. This stage could decide the General Classification winners and completes 142 kilometres of the tour.
The Yas stage The final stage takes place at Yas Marina Circuit where the peloton will complete 20 laps with intermediate sprints, to complete 110 kilometres and end the tour.
Spotters guides
Leader Jerseys and Winners The Abu Dhabi Tour is part of the UCI Asia Tour run by the Union Cycliste Internationale. As per the UCI Asia Tour guidelines, the riders will be given individual, team and country ranking based on points received in the race. The ultimate champion will be the individual rider with the highest points at the end of the tour.
There are four jerseys for the leaders, which also represent the colours in the UAE flag.
The red jersey is the most prestigious, and is worn by the fastest rider based on time taken in the general classification.
The green jersey will be worn by the fastest riders of the peloton, and is a points classification leader based on total points earned in the race.
The white jersey will adorn the best young rider under 25 in the overall classification.
The black jersey is to be worn by the sprint riders who stand to earn points on race sprints that happen on designated routes in the tour and the fastest sprinters can earn points, to stand a chance to win the black jersey.
Attractions on track The brand ambassador of the inaugural Abu Dhabi Tour is Mark Canvendish. Owing to injury, however, he is not expected to compete. Other renowned riders on track would are Joaquim Rodriguez and Vincenzo Nibali, both favourites to win the title. The tour will also see young blood Peter Sagan take part. Dubai Sky Dive is led by Mohammed Al Murawwi and the UAE national team led by Yousuf Mirza.
Public Participation
FanZone Get to Yas Mall to get complete information about the Abu Dhabi Tour and get access to the bike lab. Follow every stage live at the FanZone and don’t forget to collect race souvenirs and take pictures holding the Abu Dhabi Tour trophy. Your kids are also in for a treat with a bicycle workshop at the mall. The FanZone is open every day from 10am to 10pm.
Promo Tour Double decker buses travel all across Abu Dhabi to meet fans and engage in fun activities. Collect t-shirts and stickers, enroll for the final parade and participate in contests. The routes of these buses till October 7 are given below. During the race days, from October 8 to October 11, the buses will be at the start and finish points of each stage.
| Promo Tours | ||
|---|---|---|
| October 6 | 1pm to 11pm | Bani Yas Mall - Dalma Mall - Train Yas |
| October 7 | 12am to 9pm | Medinat Zayed - Moreeb Dune - Qasr Al Sarab |
Parade and gala The race ends in a unique parade with fans in the Yas Marina circuit. Celebrate with performers, lights and music while on the circuit with your bike. Feel free to deck up yourself and your bike in the mood of the night. Join the parade directly at the circuit for free or enroll and collect your Parade kit from the promo tour buses. The UCI Cycling Gala will follow at the du arena to award the season’s best riders.
Read more here Check website and social media for regular updates: Facebook | Twitter
Cycling in the UAE
The Abu Dhabi Tour, while bringing international professional cycling to the UAE, focuses on the importance of taking up cycling for health and environmental reasons. With the availability of scenic and well-built cycling tracks across the country, taking it up as a hobby, exercise or profession could not be easier.
Traffic Closures in Abu Dhabi
Roads will closed across Abu Dhabi for the times stated.
Click here to view the maps of closed routes in greater detail.
October 8 - Stage 1 - Liwa
October 9 - Stage 2 - Abu Dhabi City
October 10 - Stage 3 - Al Ain
