The World Tour travels to the desert with the dispute of the UAE Tour 2024

The start of the season is coming to an end just a few days before the opening weekend that kicks off the classics with the UAE Tour 2024 taking place between February 19 and 25, where the sprinters of the peloton come together in one of the few stage races tailored to their strengths.

The fastest riders in the peloton meet in the UAE Tour 2024

The UAE Tour reaches its fifth edition under this name, firmly established in the World Tour category thanks to the economic power of the Emirates. It takes place at a time when the initial block of the season is coming to an end, with cyclists reaching their peak form, some preparing for the upcoming classics and others setting their sights on the top-level stage races held in spring, such as Paris-Nice, Itzulia, or Volta a Catalunya.

In any case, the UAE Tour follows the trend of early season races with a selection of not overly challenging stages, given the terrain of the Emirates, which is ideal for the sprinters to shine over several days.

Route of the UAE Tour 2024

The UAE Tour 2024 consists of 7 stages taking place from February 19 to 25 in the United Arab Emirates. Of these, 4 are completely flat: the first, fifth, and sixth stages where the main attraction will be enjoying the atypical desert landscapes and the spectacular Emirati cities like Doha or Abu Dhabi.

It is one of the few occasions throughout the season where the best sprinters in the world will go head-to-head, ensuring thrilling stage finishes.

The second stage will be a key day in the race with the usual time trial in Al Hudayriyat Island, 12 kilometers that will be the first step in determining the general classification among the top riders in stage races who always participate in the UAE Tour.

The other two key stages will be the third stage, finishing at Jebel Jais. A stage with a profile where the final 20 kilometers constantly climb until reaching the final ascent, 2 km from the finish, where steep 9% ramps separate the contenders from the rest.

The general classification will be decided on the final day with the ascent to Jebel Hafeet, a more significant climb. A 10-kilometer ascent that maintains a constant 8-9% gradient on a wide road where progress seems slow. The toughness intensifies towards the end, close to the finish line, creating the necessary excitement to determine the final standings.

Favorites for the UAE Tour 2024

As mentioned earlier, the UAE Tour is one of the few opportunities for sprinters to shine throughout the season, leading to a long list of contenders, with the general classification candidates being more limited compared to other World Tour races.

Last year's victory went to an inspired Remco Evenepoel, who had to fight hard to defend the lead on the final stage against the push from Adam Yates, the winner of the UAE Tour in 2020. Yates will be one of the top contenders for victory in this 2024 edition. He will be supported by an inspired Brandon McNulty and Jay Vine in the UAE Team Emirates, with McNulty starting the season in great form and Vine beginning his season here. For the flat stages, the local team will rely on Juan Sebastián Molano for the mass sprints.

Pello Bilbao will be another serious contender for the overall victory, sharing leadership with Phil Bauhaus in Bahrain-Victorious for this UAE Tour 2024, with Bauhaus aiming to secure his first win after coming close in the Tour Down Under.

Another rider expected to be in the mix for the final victory is Australian Ben O'Connor, especially after his impressive performance in the Vuelta a Murcia and the strong start to the season by Decathlon-AG2R La Mondiale, who will rely on Sam Bennett for the sprints.

It is also worth noting the team presented by Movistar Team, with Einer Rubio, Iván Romeo, and Pelayo Sánchez ready to surprise in one of the two mountain finishes, with Fernando Gaviria as their sprinting ace.

Rounding out the list of fast men competing for the mass sprints are riders like Dylan Groenewegen, Fabio Jakobsen, Tim Merlier, Pascal Ackermann, Mark Cavendish, or Kaden Groves, who will surely provide thrilling finishes.

How to watch the UAE Tour 2024

Due to the time difference with the Emirates, the stages will take place at an unusual time compared to what we are used to. Eurosport will broadcast the race on their channel Eurosport 2 and on their digital platform starting at 11:50 in the morning.