Tadej Pogacar will lead the charge for UAE Team Emirates in the UAE Tour. LaPresse.
Tadej Pogacar will lead the charge for UAE Team Emirates in the UAE Tour. LaPresse.
Tadej Pogacar will lead the charge for UAE Team Emirates in the UAE Tour. LaPresse.
Tadej Pogacar will lead the charge for UAE Team Emirates in the UAE Tour. LaPresse.

UAE Tour 2025: Riders, teams, routes, road closures and all you need to know


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The finest teams and riders in the world will be arriving in the country this week for the 2025 UAE Tour.

Ahead of the race that begins at Shams Solar Power Station near Madinat Zayed on Monday, here is everything you need to know.

What is it?

The UAE Tour is an annual professional road cycling stage race that is part of the UCI World Tour that includes 36 events across the globe throughout the season.

The UAE race is the third race of the season, contested over seven days and stages in what is the seventh edition of the event.

When is it?

The 2025 race starts with Stage 1 on Monday, February 17, before concluding on Sunday, February 23, with the seventh and final stage when the winner will be crowned.

What is the race route?

The route crosses much of the UAE and spans 1,013.2km. There will be four flat stages, two mountain stages and one individual time trial.

Monday, February 17: Stage 1: Shams Solar Power Station Stage (138km, sprint) – Shams Solar Power Station near Madinat Zayed to Liwa Palace.

Tuesday, February 18: Stage 2: Tudor Stage (12.2km, individual time trial) – Hudayriyat Island.

Wednesday, February 19: Stage 3: Ras Tourism Development Authority Stage (181km, mountain) – Ras Al Khaimah to Jebel Jais.

Thursday, February 20: Stage 4: Taqa Stage (181km, sprint) – Fujairah Qidfa Beach to Umm Al Quwain.

Friday, February 21: Stage 5: Dubai Sports Council Stage (160km, sprint) – American University in Dubai to Hamdan bin Mohammed Smart University.

Saturday, February 22: Stage 6: Modon Stage (165km, sprint) – Abu Dhabi Cycling Club to Abu Dhabi Breakwater.

Sunday, February 23: Stage 7: Burjeel Stage (176km, mountain) – Al Ain Hazza Bin Zayed Stadium to Jebel Hafeet.

Will there be any road closures while the race is on?

Yes, there will be some disruption throughout the race. To see how the road closures may affect your travel plans, refer to the gallery above.

Which teams and riders are competing?

There will be 15 UCI world teams taking part and five UCI pro teams.

Triple crown winner Tadej Pogacar will be leading the way for UAE Team Emirates-XRG, with the Slovenian making his first appearance at the race since he retained the title in 2022.

Reigning champion Lennart Van Eetvel is returning to defend his crown, while Michael Storer, who finished fourth overall in 2024, is also one to watch.

European champion and five-time stage winner Tim Merlier is among a strong sprinting line-up that also includes the likes of Olav Kooij, Dylan Groenewegen and Jonathan Milan.

Who are the past winners?

2019: Primoz Roglic (Team Jumbo – Visma) Slovenia

2020: Adam Yates (Mitchelton–Scott) UK

2021: Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) Slovenia

2022: Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) Slovenia

2023: Remco Evenepoel (Soudal – Quick-Step) Belgium

2024: Lennert Van Eetvelt (Lotto – Dstny) Belgium

What do the coloured jerseys mean?

Red Jersey, general classification: Worn daily, starting from Stage 2, by the leader of the general classification by time.

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.

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.

Is the UAE Tour on television?

The entire race will be shown live on Abu Dhabi Sports and Dubai Sports.

The burning issue

The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE. 

Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on

Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins

Read part two: how climate change drove the race for an alternative 

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The biog

Favourite book: Men are from Mars Women are from Venus

Favourite travel destination: Ooty, a hill station in South India

Hobbies: Cooking. Biryani, pepper crab are her signature dishes

Favourite place in UAE: Marjan Island

The five pillars of Islam

1. Fasting

2. Prayer

3. Hajj

4. Shahada

5. Zakat 

The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo

The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
Price, base / as tested: Dh182,178
Engine: 3.7-litre V6
Power: 350hp @ 7,400rpm
Torque: 374Nm @ 5,200rpm
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
​​​​​​​Fuel consumption, combined: 10.5L / 100km

WHAT IS A BLACK HOLE?

1. Black holes are objects whose gravity is so strong not even light can escape their pull

2. They can be created when massive stars collapse under their own weight

3. Large black holes can also be formed when smaller ones collide and merge

4. The biggest black holes lurk at the centre of many galaxies, including our own

5. Astronomers believe that when the universe was very young, black holes affected how galaxies formed

WOMAN AND CHILD

Director: Saeed Roustaee

Starring: Parinaz Izadyar, Payman Maadi

Rating: 4/5

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Updated: February 16, 2025, 7:01 AM`