Abu Dhabi Sports Council and the UAE Tour organisers, and Dubai Sports Council, have confirmed that for the first time all 19 WorldTour teams have committed teams to race the third edition of the UAE Tour.
The start and finish locations of the first WorldTour race of the season have also been confirmed, with the event set to take place on February 21-27, as ratified by the cycling’s world governing body, the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI).
This year’s edition will see the riders start and finish in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates, and compete over seven diverse stages that showcase the unique landscapes of the country. 20 teams populate the provisional start list, with every WorldTeam competing, including Alpecin-Fenix – the top-ranked UCI ProTeam in 2020.
The first and second editions of the race – won by Primož Roglič and Adam Yates respectively – attracted a strong roster of riders.
The varied climbs that have featured in the first two editions of the UAE Tour have provided world-class team leaders with opportunities to showcase their form. The race’s flatter stages have proved to be a sprinter’s paradise, offering fast finishes for many of the world’s best sprinters including: Caleb Ewan, Sam Bennett, Pascal Ackermann, Elia Viviani and Fernando Gaviria.
Further details of the 2021 UAE Tour teams and riders will be announced in the coming weeks, closely followed by the official announcement of the race route. Details of the strict COVID-19 protocols designed to ensure the safety of all riders, staff and everyone involved in the race will also be released shortly.
Provisional team list
AG2R CITROEN TEAM
ASTANA – PREMIER TECH
BAHRAIN VICTORIOUS
BORA – HANSGROHE
COFIDIS
DECEUNINCK – QUICK-STEP
EF EDUCATION – NIPPO
GROUPAMA – FDJ
INEOS GRENADIERS
INTERMARCHÉ – WANTY – GOBERT MATÉRIAUX
ISRAEL START-UP NATION
JUMBO-VISMA
LOTTO SOUDAL
MOVISTAR TEAM
TEAM BIKEEXCHANGE
TEAM DSM
TEAM QHUBEKA ASSOS
TREK – SEGAFREDO
UAE TEAM EMIRATES
ALPECIN-FENIX
