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Due to the cancellation of the Australian races (Tour Down Under and Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race) the wait to see World Tour races again has been even longer than in other years. Since Il Lombardia put an end to the UWT 2021 season, more than 4 months have passed, but finally the highest category of world cycling is back, and it will begin in the United Arab Emirates.

Route

The route of this edition of the UAE Tour is similar to that of previous editions, with a predominance of purely flat stages (stages 1,2, 5 and 6). The other three stages, which will be decisive for the general classification, are a 9 km time trial (stage 3) and the usual two mountaintop finishes to Jebel Jais (18.7 km at 6.7%) (stage 4) and Jebel Hafeet (10.9 km at 6.7%) (stage 7).

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This is the home race for the UAE Team Emirates, and they want to shine. As they did last year, they present a very strong team led by Tadej Pogačar (1200), who will seek to defend the title. In addition, João Almeida (1200) makes his debut with the Emirati team and is a solid second asset.

Pogačar and Almeida's main rival for the general classification will presumably be Alexandr Vlasov (1200), who has started the season very strongly, with a victory in the Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana. Other candidates for the GC can be Adam Yates (1000), Romain Bardet (800), Jack Haig (600), Tom Dumoulin (400) or Jack Hirt (400), winner of the Tour of Oman this week.

A nice battle is also expected on the flat stages, as several great sprinters are on the start list: Jasper Philipsen (1200), Sam Bennett (1000), Arnaud Demare (1200), Mark Cavendish (800), Mads Pedersen (1000), Fernando Gaviria (800) and Elia Viviani (600) are amongst the fastest men in the world.