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The one and only world tour race in the Middle East. Hot racing in the sand! New feature is the addition of an TTT (yes, a team timetrial).

Notable GC mentions: Evenepoel, Adam Yates, Bilbao, McNulty, Soler, Buchmann, Kuss
Notable sprinters: Groenewegen, Ewan, Bennet, Merlier, Cavendish

https://www.theuaetour.com/

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Live video stream available on Eurosport/GCN.

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Full startlist (not yet final):
https://www.procyclingstats.com/race/uae-tour/2023/gc/startlist
 
Profiles men

Stage 1: Al Dhafra Castle – Al Mirfa (151 KM)

The stage of the desert. Starting from Al Dhafra Castle in the desert, the route reaches Madinat Zayed along wide and straight roads. After the city it crosses the desert again for over 60 km, heading toward the coast pointing directly towards Al Mirfa. Here is where the route enters the final circuit of about 18 km, to be repeated once.

Last kms
The final circuit is on a wide well-paved road and features some turnarounds on large roundabouts and a short climb immediately after the passages on the finish line. The finish line is on asphalt 8m wide.

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Stage 2: Khalifa Port – Khalifa Port TTT (17.2 KM)

Stage 2 is a Team Time Trial that takes place entirely inside Khalifa Port. The route is very fast and is characterized only by a few right angle bends and two U-turns. The road is perfectly flat, wide and with wide-ranging turns, which will allow riders to hold very high speeds (wind permitting).

Last kms
Wide curves, wide road, excellent pavement. The finish line is on asphalt

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Stage 3: Umbrella Beach Al Fujairah – Jebel Jais (185 KM)

The first of two mountain stages of the UAE Tour. The stage is divided into two distinct parts. The first approaches the final mountain undulating through the desert, while the last is characterized by approximately 20 km of continuous climbing up to the finish. Departing from Fujairah and crossing the desert areas on the edge of the Hajar mountains, it then heads towards Ras-al-Khaimah, whose capital is not crossed by the ride. The stage then heads directly towards Jais Mountain. The final climb of approximately 20 km at constant 5% gradient, with slightly higher gradients around 7% in the last 2 km.

Last kms
The final climb winds through hairpin bends on a very wide roadway. Gradients are mainly around 4-5% in the first part and 5-7% in the second, with a peak of 9% around 2 km from the finish. The finish is on straight asphalt roads.

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Stage 4: Al Shindagha – Dubai Harbour (174 KM)

A stage in Dubai. Departing from Shindagha, the first part of the stage is on the edge of the city before entering the desert and touching on classic stopover locations such as Al Qudra Cycle track and Expo City Dubai. It then arrives at the Palm Jumeirah, on Crescent Rd, before returning to the base of the Palm and Dubai Harbour. The entire route winds along very wide, and substantially straight, roads interspersed with roundabouts that have a very large radius and are well paved.

Last kms
The ending is on a wide avenue, with the arrival to the finish line on asphalt.

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Stage 5: Al Marjan Island – Umm al Quwain (182 KM)
Departing from Marjan Island to reach Ras al Khaimah, the stage heads through the desert southwards with some deviations from the motorway. Here it covers several stretches of motorway until reaching Umm al Quwain for the final sprint. The entire route takes place on wide, straight and well-paved roads through the desert.

Last kms
The final km is on a wide avenue that is slightly curved. The arrival to the finish line is on asphalt.

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Stage 6: Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi – Abu Dhabi Breakwater (166 KM)
Stage around the city of Abu Dhabi. Departing from Warner Bros Island in Yas Island, the first part of the stage heads north. Continuing towards Khalifa Port it then returns south and heads back to the town through Khalifa City. Returning to Abu Dhabi via the highway and via Maqta Bridge, brushing past the Grand Mosque until reaching Al Khaleej Al Arabi St. Here the substantially straight road, lasting 15 km, leads to the Abu Dhabi Breakwater for a sprint finish.

Last kms
The last 5 km are on a wide road with large semi-curves that lead to the finish line on asphalt.

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Stage 7: Hazza Bin Zayed Stadium – Jebel Hafeet (153 KM)
The classic mountain stage of the UAE Tour. In the first part, the traditional long ride in the desert north of the city is covered. The route then winds through Al Ain, where many symbolic landmarks are touched (Al Ain Zoo, Al Qattara, Al Hili) until it returns to Green Mubazzarah. Here the final climb of Jebel Hafeet begins, which with its 10 km section will be the final judge of the race.

Last kms
The final climb winds through wide-ranging hairpin bends on a 3-lane roadway. Gradients are mainly around 8-9% with a peak of 11%, 3 km from the finish. There is a very short descent in the last km, before the last ramp. The finish line is on straight asphalt.

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Profiles women

Stage 1»Port Rashid›Dubai Harbour(109km)

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Stage 2»Al Dhafra Castle›Al Mirfa(133km)


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Stage 3»Hazza bin Zayed Stadium›Jebel Hafeet(107km)

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Stage 4 (Final)»Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies Sports Academy›Abu Dhabi Breakwater(119km)


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This race didn't really need a women's version, but at least the riders seem to be enjoying themselves in the desert.

It will be interesting to see if SD Worx can handle Wiebes or if DSM with Kool can challenge them in the sprints. It's the first race in 2023 for most riders, so I'm not sure who the favourite is, but Longo Borghini has been on Teide the last few weeks, so that could perhaps give her an edge.
 
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This race didn't really need a women's version, but at least the riders seem to be enjoying themselves in the desert.

It will be interesting to see if SD Worx can handle Wiebes or if DSM with Kool can challenge them in the sprints. It's the first race in 2023 for most riders, so I'm not sure who the favourite is, but Longo Borghini has been on Teide the last few weeks, so that could perhaps give her an edge.

The only time a rider got real close to Wiebes was Balsamo in the European Championship - Noticeably the Italian's sprint train was on one side of the road to the Dutch and the sprint train was faster than Wiebes - This is the way to beat Wiebes. Easier said then done.
 
Based on the start list and profiles i guess we should see some nice sprints. As for the GC. Without Pogi obviously the majority of the pressure is on Evenepoel. Still teams like UAE and some other individual riders can take the GC too. What Evenepoel likely won't be able to do is to crack a team like UAE. Trying solo. On the other hand UAE might not be in such form. As Ineos was on previous race. Hence maybe it would be worth the risk. And this makes this race rather intriguing.
 

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