Only a few days to go to one of the most anticipated races of the year. Seven emirates, seven stages, seven days - I cannot wait! The UCI WorldTour returns to my home country once again as the Dubai and Abu Dhabi Tours are combined to form the second edition of the UAE Tour. The Dubai part of the Tour has always been an event that has been dominated by the sprinters and a few of the stages this year will suit our fast man, Fernando Gaviria. I expect him to surprise everyone here and firmly establish himself as one of the best sprinters in the world. Abu Dhabi, on the other hand, was always one for the climbers. The climb on Jebel Hafeet is a big test for everyone and will play a big role in the GC this time around but I am confident that we will arrive with a well-rounded team that are able to challenge in all aspects of the race. Gaviria won a stage in the first edition of the UAE Tour last year and I think we can expect to see at least another stage win this year. With Maximiliano Richeze and Tadej Pogacar in the lineup, this is UAE Team Emirates' strongest team we have had for our home race that I can remember. I have been riding here all my life, so we have got the advantage that no other team has. I know the course inside out and although I won’t be riding, I will be on hand to use my experience to help my teammates – when to launch our attack and what tactics to employ – this will give us a very good chance of winning some vital stages. The route this year sees three uphill finishes – two of which (Stage 3 and 5) end with the gruelling 10.8km long Jebel Hafeet ascent which should be well suited to Pogacar. Stage 4 sets off from Zabeel Park and finishes at Dubai City Walk with the walkway becoming a racing route. This is one for the sprinters. The final stage, around Abu Dhabi, follows the normal route from the Abu Dhabi Tour. The stage will start from Al Maryah Island, pass the Great Mosque and return through Khalifa City. The route takes in Saadiyat Island, the Louvre and the Corniche before arriving back at the Abu Dhabi Breakwater. This will probably come down to a bunch finish so keep an eye out for our fast man Gaviria. One of the most beautiful things about the UAE Tour is that you are riding for seven days through seven emirates. It is a rare chance for the riders that have never raced here to see many of the top tourist destinations we have to offer, not to mention the natural scenery we get to see during the race. My first race of the 2020 season came in Saudi Arabia last week. This was the first professional cycling race to be held in the Kingdom. As a GCC national I am proud that the Saudi Cycling Federation was able to host this event and that another country in the Middle East will be an important part of the international cycling scene. My teammate and good friend, Rui Costa, finished third overall in the GC, which was a fantastic achievement. The race was split into five stages beginning at the Saudi Arabian Olympic Committee HQ on February 4 and finishing on February 8 at Al-Masmak Fort. We passed many Riyadh landmarks along the way: Sadus Castle, Wadi Namar Park and Al-Bujairi historical district, which was great because a lot of the riders had never been to Saudi Arabia before. The Kingdom is playing a pivotal role in bringing world class sporting events to the region and I hope it’s a sign of things to come, adding to the UAE Tour that’s already a world class event. I hope to see you all cheering on UAE Team Emirates at the UAE Tour. I am sure we will do our fans and sponsors proud.
