Abu Dhabi Tour 2016: Route and jerseys unveiled
Abu Dhabi, 21 September 2016 – This year’s edition of the Abu Dhabi Tour, the four-stage professional cycling race organized by Abu Dhabi Sports Council (ADSC) in collaboration with RCS Sport, will cover 555km over its four-day run from 20 to 23 October.
The race which brings the international season to a close just a few days after the 16 October World Championships and 18 October UCI Cycling Gala, will start with two flat stages dedicated to sprinters, followed by a mountain stage, where climbers and puncheurs will fight for general classification. The grand finale is once again confirmed for the iconic Formula 1 Yas Marina Circuit.
His Excellency Aref Al Awani, ADSC’s General Secretary, said:
“The success of the Abu Dhabi Tour has been recognized by the fact that this annual sporting event will join the UCI World Tour calendar in February 2017. In addition to the race and the UCI Cycling Gala, we are cultivating several side projects for the development of cycling in schools and among the young. The short-term goal is still to become a world class event but the longer-term focus is to spread the cycling culture, to inspire people into healthy and active lifestyles.“
Abu Dhabi Tour 2016 boasts a fast-balanced route alternating between the desert and the sea, and from the mountains to the city. Under the spotlight in the first and third stages are the famous oases of Liwa and Al Ain. The UAE capital is the star of the second stage and takes in the city’s most famous landmarks, from the magnificent Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, across Saadiyat Island, the Corniche, and Khalifa City. The challenging roadway up Al Ain’s Jabel Hafeet Mountain, the second highest in the UAE, will be decisive for stage three. The Grand Finale at the famous F1 Yas Marina Circuit, where cyclists ride twice a week on the free ‘TrainYas’ programme, will see the peloton complete 26 laps of 5.5km each, before the final sprint to the podium.
ROUTE INFORMATION
Stage 01 (Thursday, October 20) – THE ADNOC STAGE / MADINAT ZAYED – MADINAT ZAYED (147 KM)
Stage 02 (Friday, October 21) – THE NATION TOWERS STAGE / ABU DHABI – ABU DHABI (Al Marina) (115 KM)
Stage 03 (Saturday, October 22) – THE STRATA STAGE / AL AIN – JEBEL HAFEET (150 KM)
Stage 04 (Sunday, October 23) – THE YAS ISLAND STAGE / YAS MARINA CIRCUIT (143 KM)
THE JERSEYS
The jerseys are designed and made by the iconic Italian brand Castelli.
To ensure the jerseys are perfect for the extreme Arab Emirates climate, Castelli give the riders a lightweight next-to-nothing fabric for hot desert temperatures and providing excellent moisture management. The jersey is cut in a close-to-the-body anatomical shape for maximum aerodynamic performance when the peloton headed into dusty crosswind sections.
RED – General classification: Last year the red jersey was won by the first winner of the Abu Dhabi Tour, the Colombian Esteban Chaves.
GREEN – Points Classification: The jersey was won by the Italian Elia Viviani in 2015.
BLACK – Intermediate Sprint Competition: won by the Italian Alessandro Bazzana last year.
WHITE – Best Young Rider Classification Leader, born after January 1, 1991, will be awarded the white jersey.
THE TEAMS AND TOP RIDERS
Alongside the official route and jerseys presentation of the second edition of the Abu Dhabi Tour, the list of the 18 teams invited to the race has been officially announced. Eleven UCI World Tour teams, four UCI Professional Continental Teams and three UCI Continental Teams will be at the start of the four-stage race that, from 2017, will join the World Tour Calendar.
Among others Mark Cavendish, Alberto Contador, Vincenzo Nibali and the Rio gold medalists Greg Van Avermaet, Elia Viviani and Bradley Wiggins will compete in Abu Dhabi.
UCI WorldTeams:
ASTANA PRO TEAM (KAZ)
BMC RACING TEAM (USA)
LAMPRE-MERIDA (ITA)
LOTTO SOUDAL (BEL)
MOVISTAR TEAM (ESP)
ORICA-BIKEEXCHANGE (AUS)
TEAM DIMENSION DATA (RSA)
TEAM GIANT – ALPECIN (GER)
TEAM SKY (GBR)
TINKOFF (RUS)
TREK-SEGAFREDO (USA)
UCI Professional Continental Teams:
CCC SPRANDI POLKOWICE (POL)
GAZPROM-RUSVELO (RUS)
ONE PRO CYCLING (GBR)
WILIER TRIESTINA – SOUTHEAST (ITA)
UCI Continental Teams:
NASR DUBAI (UAE)
MINSK CYCLING CLUB (BLR)
TEAM WIGGINS (GBR)
Find out more: abudhabitour.com