The UAE Tour is set to return on February 20-26, 2023, with the world’s top male pro cyclists battling for supremacy in the Middle East for seven days of road racing.
Having hosted professional cycling races since 2014, with the Dubai Tour and the Abu Dhabi Tour, it was in 2019 that the first ever UAE Tour was introduced, taking the professional peloton across seven stages of racing throughout the Emirates.
Previous high-profile cyclists including Primož Roglič (2019), Adam Yates (2020) and Tadej Pogačar (2021, 2022) have claimed the Red jersey at the event.
The route for the 2023 men’s tour will start and end in Abu Dhabi, with riders tackling the varied terrain in the UAE as they pass Emirati landmarks over seven days of racing. The full routes will be announced in January 2023.
A release from the event organising team noted that… ‘Organised by the Abu Dhabi Sports Council, the one and only WorldTour race in the Middle East will bring cycling fans closer than ever to the sport that has dramatically grown in popularity within the region.
‘The UAE and Abu Dhabi are rapidly becoming a power-house global sports destinations, increasingly engaging with professional cycling. In 2021, Abu Dhabi claimed the prestigious UCI Bike City Label, becoming the first city in the Middle East and Asia to receive this distinction for its commitment to hosting international cycling events, promoting the sport across the community and developing its cycling infrastructure. Continuing this trajectory of hosting world-class cycling events, the city hosted the UCI Urban Cycling World Championships in 2022 and will do once more in 2024.’
HE Aref Al Awani, General Secretary of Abu Dhabi Sports Council said “We are delighted to see the UAE Tour, the world class cycling event return to the region next year. The UAE Tour has been a firm favourite in the UCI cycling calendar and these races are a great opportunity to showcase the country’s varied territories and historic sites to the world.”
Fabrizio D’Amico, Chief Operating Officer at RCS Sports & Events and UAE Tour Director, added “For the past eight years the UAE has exponentially grown from strength to strength in professional cycling.
“The seven stage WorldTour race will enter is fifth edition in February 2023 and will once again attract the best riders from all the world. The UAE Tour is always an exciting race as it allows the riders to test themselves ahead of the European calendar races and the GrandTour races and sets the tone of the season to come.”
