Marta Bastianelli promised her UAE Team ADQ are aiming to put on a show for home fans in the inaugural UAE Tour Women starting in Dubai on Thursday.
The first and only UCI World Tour race in the Middle East, the four-stage event will open with a 109 kilometre ride from Port Rashid to Dubai Harbour.
Italian Bastianelli, 35, is one of the most experienced riders among the 13 UCI World and seven UCI Continental teams battling to become the first holders of the title.
“We are a fully professional unit and we have arrived well prepared, and want to do our best to challenge for the title,” the former world champion said at the pre-race conference at the Abu Dhabi Cycling Club on Hudayriat Island on Wednesday.
“It’s very important for us to be here and represent the host nation in this inaugural race for women. We have a strong team [of six riders] and we believe in ourselves. Of course, we will face strong challenges, but we are ready for it.”
The rest of the UAE Team ADQ include Silvia Persico, a revelation at the Tour de France Femmes, their lead-out Chiara Consonni and Eleonora Camilla Gasparrini, alongside Laura Tomasi and Anna Trevisi.
The 20 teams will tackle the three sprint and the penultimate mountain stage that finishes at the summit of Jebel Hafeet in Al Ain.
Marta Cavalli (FDJ-Suez) arrives at the event following some excellent results last year, including second place in the Giro d'Italia Donne and triumphs at the Amstel Gold Race and La Fleche Wallonne.
Cavalli’s team also includes Australian Grace Brown, runner-up at the 2022 Women's Tour, at the World Championships ITT and at Liege-Bastogne-Liege Femmes (both in 2022 and 2020). This year, she won the Santos Tour Down Under.
“As a team we have spent a lot of time together and let’s see how far we can go in this inaugural race,” Cavalli said.
Elisa Longo Borghini (Trek-Segafredo) has amassed an impressive 35 victories since the start of her career, as well as bronze medals in the 2016 and 2020 Olympic road races.
“For us, it’s a very important race. We have a strong roster and we are very happy to be racing here,” Borghini said.
“Finally, we have got the opportunity to race in the Middle East, something that has been missing in the Tour Women.”
The biog
Name: Dhabia Khalifa AlQubaisi
Age: 23
How she spends spare time: Playing with cats at the clinic and feeding them
Inspiration: My father. He’s a hard working man who has been through a lot to provide us with everything we need
Favourite book: Attitude, emotions and the psychology of cats by Dr Nicholes Dodman
Favourit film: 101 Dalmatians - it remind me of my childhood and began my love of dogs
Word of advice: By being patient, good things will come and by staying positive you’ll have the will to continue to love what you're doing
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
The%20specs
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UK-EU trade at a glance
EU fishing vessels guaranteed access to UK waters for 12 years
Co-operation on security initiatives and procurement of defence products
Youth experience scheme to work, study or volunteer in UK and EU countries
Smoother border management with use of e-gates
Cutting red tape on import and export of food
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%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEquestrian%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3Cbr%3EAbdullah%20Humaid%20Al%20Muhairi%2C%20Abdullah%20Al%20Marri%2C%20Omar%20Al%20Marzooqi%2C%20Salem%20Al%20Suwaidi%2C%20and%20Ali%20Al%20Karbi%20(four%20to%20be%20selected).%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EJudo%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3Cbr%3EMen%3A%20Narmandakh%20Bayanmunkh%20(66kg)%2C%20Nugzari%20Tatalashvili%20(81kg)%2C%20Aram%20Grigorian%20(90kg)%2C%20Dzhafar%20Kostoev%20(100kg)%2C%20Magomedomar%20Magomedomarov%20(%2B100kg)%3B%20women's%20Khorloodoi%20Bishrelt%20(52kg).%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ECycling%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3Cbr%3ESafia%20Al%20Sayegh%20(women's%20road%20race).%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESwimming%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3Cbr%3EMen%3A%20Yousef%20Rashid%20Al%20Matroushi%20(100m%20freestyle)%3B%20women%3A%20Maha%20Abdullah%20Al%20Shehi%20(200m%20freestyle).%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EAthletics%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3Cbr%3EMaryam%20Mohammed%20Al%20Farsi%20(women's%20100%20metres).%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The specs: 2019 Haval H6
Price, base: Dh69,900
Engine: 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
Power: 197hp @ 5,500rpm
Torque: 315Nm @ 2,000rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 7.0L / 100km
THE BIO
Family: I have three siblings, one older brother (age 25) and two younger sisters, 20 and 13
Favourite book: Asking for my favourite book has to be one of the hardest questions. However a current favourite would be Sidewalk by Mitchell Duneier
Favourite place to travel to: Any walkable city. I also love nature and wildlife
What do you love eating or cooking: I’m constantly in the kitchen. Ever since I changed the way I eat I enjoy choosing and creating what goes into my body. However, nothing can top home cooked food from my parents.
Favorite place to go in the UAE: A quiet beach.
