Route, jerseys and sponsors announced for 2020 UAE Tour

After the successful inaugural edition of 2019, the second edition of the UAE Tour was officially unveiled today at the Sharjah Academy for Astronomy, Space Sciences & Technology. The route of the seven-stage race and the four leaders’ jerseys were revealed.

Organized by the Dubai Sports Council, the Abu Dhabi Sports Council and Sharjah Sports Council, in partnership with RCS Sport, the second edition is scheduled from 23rd to 29th February 2020.

The 2020 UAE Tour’s seven stages will embrace all seven United Emirates. The first stage will be hosted by Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm-al-Quwain and Ras-al-Khaimah, the second will start in Dubai and include both Sharjah and Ras-al-Khaimah, while the third crosses Sharjah, Fujairah and Ras-al-Khaimah. The fourth runs entirely in the Emirate of Dubai and the final three stages will be hosted by Abu Dhabi. The 2020 UAE Tour has a total distance of 1,177km with a significant elevation gain of around 3,500 metres, mostly concentrated into stages two, three and five.

Among the riders who have already announced their participation are last year’s UAE Tour runner-up and 2018 UCI Road World Champion, Alejandro Valverde, also winner of the 2018 Abu Dhabi Tour and two times stage winner atop Jebel Hafeet; two-times UCI Time Trial World Champion and stage winner at the 2018 Abu Dhabi Tour, Rohan Dennis; 2019 Giro d’Italia Maglia Azzurra (King of the Mountain) Giulio Ciccone, the young Slovenian Tadej Pogačar, winner of 2019 Tour of California, three stages and third overall at the 2019 Vuelta a España.

Alongside them are such famous names as the Italian road champion Davide Formolo, Adam Yates, Wout Poels (winner of the 2016 Liège-Bastogne-Liège), stage winner at both the Giro and the Tour, Ilnur Zakarin, and some of the best sprinters in the world, including: Fernando Gaviria – winner of five stages at the Giro, two at the Tour and winner of Stage 2 of last year’s UAE Tour; stage winner in all three Grand Tours and winner of Stage 4 of 2019 UAE Tour atop Hatta Dam, Caleb Ewan; Dylan Groenewegen (four-times stage at the Tour de France); Sam Bennett (winner of three stages at the Giro and two at La Vuelta); 2019 Giro d’Italia double stage winner and Maglia Ciclamino (Points Classification) Pascal Ackermann; Arnaud Démare (multiple stage winner between the Giro and the Tour, 2016 Milano-Sanremo) and Mark Cavendish, with 30 stages at the Tour de France, 15 at the Giro d’Italia, the 2011 Road World Champion and winner of two stages and the General Classification at the 2015 Dubai Tour.

The Route

The 2020 edition of the UAE Tour offers a mix of technically different stages, open to all types of riders, with the all-rounders most likely to win the overall General Classification category. It starts on Sunday 23rd February in Dubai’s Zabeel park with the Marjan Island Stage (158km), a flat opening stage to end in Al Marjan Island after passing by many landmarks of Dubai and Ras al Khaimah such as Dubai Frame, Zabeel Palace, Festival City, Mushrif Park, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, Al Hamra and the Murjan Island.

The second stage on Monday 24th February, the Dubai Municipality Stage (203km) is the longest stage of the UAE Tour. Its route is a tribute to the classic Dubai Tour “Queen stage”, starting from The Pointe – Palm Jumeirah and finishing with the short, sharp rise of Hatta Dam, climbing 200m on gradients ranging from 12% to a maximum of 17%.

The following day, the peloton will start the third stage, the Sharjah Stage (198km), running from Sharjah to Rafisah Dam with the Rafisah Dam to be climbed twice before the final ascent. The route takes in numerous landmarks of the Emirate of Sharjah such as the Sharjah Municipality, Sharjah Flag Island, Sharjah University, Khor Fakkan, Rafisah Dam and the Sports City.

The fourth stage is on Wednesday 26th February: the Dubai Stage, 171km between Dubai Design District and Dubai City Walk. The route, suitable for the fast wheels of the peloton, touches the main landmarks of Dubai: Meydan, Trump Golf Club, Motor City, Sports City, Jumeirah Golf Estates, Jumeirah Islands, Burj Khalifa, Dubai Design District, Dubai Canal, Festival City, Mushrif Park, Downtown Dubai and City Walk.

The following day, the peloton will start the Al Ain Stage (162km) from the Al Ain before facing the Jebel Hafeet climb: with the finish at 1,025m after a 10.8km climb with a maximum gradient of 10% and average slope of 5.4%. The route runs along UAE University, Qasr Al Muwaiji, Al Ain Zoo and Green Mubazzarah before the epilogue on the Jebel Hafeet climb.

On Friday 28th February the penultimate stage is the ADNOC Stage (158km) starts from Al Ruwais and pass by the Al Yash Recreational Centre, ADNOC School, Ruwais Mall,
Al Mirfa Beach before ending in Al Mirfa, where a bunch sprint is expected.

The Grand Finale, on Saturday 29th February, delivers a spectacular parade entirely in the city of Abu Dhabi. The Abu Dhabi Stage (127km) starts at Al Maryah Island and finishes at the Abu Dhabi Breakwater with what is expected to be a bunch sprint. The last stage  passes by many of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi’s landmarks such as the Al Maryah Island, Saadiyat Island, Yas Island, Al Maqta Tower, Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, Zayed Sports City, Abu Dhabi Golf Club, the Louvre Abu Dhabi, Qasr Al Hosn and the Big Flag.

H.E. Saeed Hareb, Dubai Sports Council Secretary General, said: “This year’s route of the UAE Tour will challenge every kind of rider and will crown the most complete rider who proves to be the strongest in the seven stages raced across all seven Emirates. It was our dream to have a world-class international cycling event which features the beauty and faces the riding challenges of all seven Emirates and, as the first edition already proved, the UAE Tour is establishing itself as an important appointment in the world cycling calendar. Moreover, this race represents a unique opportunity to show worldwide our country’s varied territories and reflect our goal to promote the seven Emirates beyond their borders through sport and especially cycling.”

H.E. Aref Al Awani, Abu Dhabi Sports Council General Secretary, said: “I’m delighted to unveil the second edition of this wonderful race, following the successful 2019 inaugural edition. The UAE Tour is the result of years of effort, passion and commitment from many people. I especially want to thank the Dubai Sports Council, Abu Dhabi Sports Council, Sharjah Sports Council, along with our sponsors and partners. As the world is watching, we are poised to deliver another world-class sporting spectacle which will contribute to the development of cycling across all the seven Emirates.”

“The whole Sharjah cycling movement is proud of being part of this world-class event,” said H.E. Eisa Hilal Al Hezami, Sharjah Sports Council General Secretary. “This year we will have one more stage that will be raced in the Emirate of Sharjah, compared to last year’s edition. Stages 2 and 3, with their finishes atop Hatta Dan and Rafisah Dam, will probably be very important for the General Classification of this second edition of the UAE Tour – with Stage 3 being the Sharjah Stage. I’m sure that the Sharjah Stage, and the entire UAE Tour, will produce many true sporting spectacles. We are also pleased to host the press conference here in Sharjah, at the iconic Sharjah Academy for Astronomy, Space Sciences & Technology”.

H.E. Osama Al Shafar, President of the UAE Cycling Federations, said: “We are delighted with the progress of the UAE Tour as a major cycling event in the world. It has once again attracted the best riders from around the world. We wish all of them the best of luck and an enjoyable stay in the UAE.”

Mauro Vegni, RCS Sport Cycling Director, said: “For the second year, together with the friends of the Dubai Sports Council, Abu Dhabi Sports Council and Sharjah Sports Council, we are presenting this international event, part of the UCI WorldTour calendar, with great riders at the start. We are sure that the UAE Tour will continue to grow because it happens at a very interesting time in the cycling season and is characterised by a mixed route with stages suitable for many different riders. It’s a race with a strong international appeal, as with all our cycling races.”

The Jerseys

Red Jersey

General Classification: worn daily, starting from Stage 2, by the leader of the General Classification by time.

Sponsor: Emirates

Khalid Al Hassan, Emirates District Manager for Sharjah and the Northern Emirates, said: “Emirates is pleased to be a sponsor of the 2020 UAE Tour and the Official Sponsor of the race’s Red Jersey. One of our main reasons for being involved in the UAE Tour is because it showcases the best of the UAE, our home, to a global audience.”

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.

Sponsor: Mubadala

‏Saoud Karmastaji, Senior Assistant Manager – Corporate Communications at Mubadala Investment Company, said: “Mubadala has always been actively involved in sports tournaments on a local and international level, and it brings us great pride to be the nation that is hosting the only World Tour race in the Middle East. Building on the success of the first edition, this year’s UAE Tour is set to be even bigger, highlighting the UAE on the global stage and as a go-to destination for some of the biggest sports tournaments in the world. We are also a proud sponsor of the Green Jersey for the fastest sprinter, and we are excited to offer such opportunities to athletes. We wish the best of luck to all the riders and we look forward to an exciting race.”

White Jersey

Young Rider Classification: worn daily, starting from Stage 2, by the best young rider born after 1st January 1995 in the overall classification by time (U25), the name to watch out for in the future.

Sponsor: Nakheel

Aqil Kazim, Nakheel Chief Commercial Officer, said: “We are proud to reinforce our commitment to supporting the UAE Tour by sponsoring the White Jersey for the second consecutive year. This world class event is one of the most prestigious competitions in the global sporting calendar, and the perfect platform from which to showcase the UAE and its world-famous landmarks to millions of spectators, whether they are watching live at the scene or through global media. The UAE Tour takes in some of the country’s most beautiful, iconic locations, including our own world-famous, flagship development, Palm Jumeirah, which also has the honour of being the starting point for day two’s The Pointe – Hatta leg of the tour. We are delighted to be on board, and wish the Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah Sports Councils, RCS Sport and all of the competitors every success.”

Black Jersey

Intermediate Sprint Classification: worn daily, starting from Stage 2, by the rider who has gained more Intermediate Sprint Points than any other rider.

Sponsor: Abu Dhabi Aviation

Arwa Al Kindi, Abu Dhabi Aviation Board Member, said: “By hosting such events, the United Arab Emirates elevates and prospers. Abu Dhabi Aviation, the largest helicopter operator in the Middle East and North Africa, is honoured to be the official sponsor for the UAE Tour 2020 in its second edition. Abu Dhabi Aviation’s participation in the UAE Tour is in support of sporting activities and events hosted by Abu Dhabi, in addition to cooperation in the development of sporting activities and activities in line with Abu Dhabi Vision 2030. Abu Dhabi Aviation is also keen to carry out its corporate social duties by supporting and sponsoring major sporting events that contribute to the development of the community. Through its fleet, capabilities, and expertise, Abu Dhabi Aviation is going to provide two vertical planes for local and international TV channels to show the entire UAE Tour, which is going to also depict UAE’s heritage, historical and touristic landmarks. Abu Dhabi Aviation aircraft will accompany the competitors in all stages of the tour.”

Official Sponsors

Alongside the “Top Sponsors” of the four jerseys (Emirates, Mubadala, Nakheel, Abu Dhabi Aviation) gratitude is expressed towards these other brands who are supporting the 2020 UAE Tour: Marjan Island, Dubai Municipality, Sharjah Sports Council, ADNOC (“Stage Sponsor”) and Audi ANA, AD Sport, Dubai Sport, Westin and Castelli.