Good morning from Stage 1 of the UAE Tour
The Pointe, Dubai, 23 February 2020 – Good morning from Stage 1, the Dubai Silicon Oasis Stage, of the second edition of the UAE Tour (23-29 February 2020), the one and only WorldTour race in the Middle East. The opening stage features 148km on a flat route between Dubai - The Pointe and Dubai Silicon Oasis and is expected to end with a bunch sprint.
The peloton, 140 riders strong, passed km 0 at 13:03.
During the stage, 36 points are the maximum available for the Green Jersey (252 is the race total) and 16 for the Black Jersey (112 is the total). There are also a maximum of 16" time bonuses available, 3" in each of the two intermediate sprints and 10" on the finish line.
Thanks to Velon’s rider data system, TV viewers and online users can see the riders’ wattage, speed and cadence. The complete list of riders carrying Velon's device and onboard cameras on today's stage is available here.
WEATHER
Dubai - The Pointe (13.05): Sunny 27°C. Wind: moderate – 10kmh, N.
Dubai Silicon Oasis (around 16.30): Sunny 28°C. Wind: moderate – 18kmh, N.
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THE ROUTE
Stage 1 – DUBAI SILICON OASIS STAGE - The Pointe - Dubai Silicon Oasis (148km)
A mainly desert stage with some sections in the city of Dubai. After starting from Palm Jumeirah / The Pointe, the route continues towards the Al Qudra area (with its cycle path), followed by a desert section before returning to the town shortly ahead of the finish. It’s ridden on wide, well-paved roads, with the potential for sand in windy conditions.
Last km
The final kilometers are on wide and well-paved asphalt roads interspersed with some large roundabouts. The last 300m are on straight, 8m wide asphalt.
UAE NATIONAL ANTI-DOPING COMMITTEE LAUNCHES THE ANTI-DOPING MOBILE BUS
The UAE National Anti-Doping Committee officially launched the mobile anti-doping bus at the 2020 UAE Tour. The bus will also serves as an outreach station, working effectively within the sports system, emphasizing the importance of education and awareness starting from young ages. This initiative matches international standards following WADA stressing important role of National Anti-Doping Committees in each country. The mobile vehicle designed for doping testing ensures the highest international standards, comparable with the best similar service providers. To read more about the UAE National Anti-Doping Committee officially launched the mobile anti-doping bus please click here.
POINTS OF INTERESTS
THE POINT, 148KM TO FINISH LINE
A USD220 million waterfront dining, leisure and entertainment hub on the world-famous Palm Jumeirah. The destination has 70 restaurants, shops and entertainment outlets offering cuisines and experiences from across the world.
PALM JUMEIRAH, 148KM TO FINISH LINE
Dubai is famous for its soaring skyline – and that’s not the only feat of engineering to capture the world’s imagination. Built from reclaimed land in a series of artificial archipelagos, Palm Jumeirah is shaped like a palm tree when viewed from above. The unique island is home to some of Dubai’s top luxury resorts, including Atlantis, The Palm, Jumeirah Zabeel Saray, One&Only The Palm and many more. There are fantastic fine dining options, such as Nobu and 101 Dining Lounge, and more than 80 restaurants, lounges and other attractions at The Pointe, located along a scenic promenade at the tip of The Palm.
THE WORLD, 148KM TO FINISH LINE
The World is an iconic collection of 300 islands in the shape of the globe, located 4.5 km off the coast of Dubai. The project is nine km long and sev- en km wide, and has added 232km of beachfront to Dubai’s coastline and provided 10 million sq meters of area for the development of hotels, resorts and residences. The World is protected by a 27km long breakwater, which is also one of Dubai’s most popular destinations for scuba diving.
SKYDIVE DUBAI, 148KM TO FINISH LINE
Skydive Dubai is the world’s premier skydiving brand, known for its extraordinary and innovative pursuit of excellence in aerial sports and for two of the foremost skydiving locations worldwide. Its Palm Dropzone, neighboring the iconic Palm Jumeirah, is located on the coast in the Mina Seyahi area between Dubai Marina and Jumeirah Beach Residences (JBR), and is the perfect place for tandem skydiving or for skydivers with advanced skills to fun jump. It has a drop zone of 260,000 square metres and a 42,000-square metre runway that extends into the Arabian Gulf, as well as a full gear store with everything skydivers need, whether catering to newbies or a seasoned pro. Staff have an average of 7,000 jumps and have 10 years’ experience.
Skydive Dubai also has a second dropzone, Desert Campus, located off the Dubai – Al Ain road (E66) near Margham, which is 35km away from the heart of Dubai and approximately an hour and a half drive from Dubai International Airport (DXB). Starting out with just a runway in 2010, the Desert Campus has transformed over the years into a modern skydiving dropzone where people enjoy tandem skydives, learn to skydive solo, just skydive for fun and receive top-level coaching (individuals, teams and pros) for any discipline in the sport. The Desert Campus swoop pond allows for training over the water in either direction and boasts a new building devoted to team training. Athletes from all over the world travel to the Desert Campus dropzone to train.
Skydive Dubai's exhilarating offering also extends to gyrocopters, paramotors and Inflight Dubai, the largest and tallest wind tunnel in the world. In the immediate perimeter of the Palm dropzone, just steps away from the dropzone, is Zero Gravity, an unmatched beach, bar and restaurant which offers a unique and exclusive space to bliss out, gather and dine in outstanding surroundings, overlooking exceptional views. Also not to miss is the fully-equipped outdoor gym.
THE BEACH, 148KM TO FINISH LINE
Set against the fresh blue waters of the Arabian Gulf, The Beach embodies urban living at its sunny best - the latest entertainment, delicious cuisine, water sports, a 600 metre running track, a fully-equipped outdoor gym that offers classes and some of the city’s best and most unique shops - you really can have it all.
BLUEWATER ISLAND, 145KM TO FINISH LINE
Home to Ain Dubai, the world’s largest observation wheel, along with 200 retail and dining concepts, the modern district features unparalleled views of the Gulf. Surrounded by water and detached from the hustle and bustle of the mainland, you definitely get the island experience.
Located off the waters of Dubai Marina area, Bluewaters is split into different areas across residential, retail, leisure and entertainment, hotels and beach clubs. The Ain Dubai or ‘Dubai Eye’ is the centrepiece, expected to attract thousands of visitors every year. Also featured is Caesar’s Palace, the island’s new luxurious lifestyle destination, featuring a range of accommodation to suit all occasions. And amongst this ultra-luxe hub, you’ll find the all-new Cove Beach, revamped and ready to entertain at this new metropolis. At Bluewaters, you can experience a new kind of city life surrounded by only the most amazing views of Dubai. Highly developed and serene, it’s still connected closely to the mainland via a direct bridge to Sheikh Zayed Road. Take a stroll across the pedestrian bridge linking the island to Jumeirah Beach Residence. This is a lovely walk under 300 metres – a convenient way to travel between The Beach and Bluewaters.
BURJ AL ARAB, 140KM TO FINISH LINE
Burj Al Arab, at 321m (1,053ft) is the fourth tallest hotel in the world and one of Dubai’s most famous landmarks. Opened in December 1999, the luxury hotel stands on an artificial island and its shape mimics the sail of a ship. To advertise the local Dubai Duty Free Men’s Open, the hotel used to convert its helipad into a green-roofed tennis court situated 211m high on a surface area of 415m2. The iconic first exhibition was a friendly match between Roger Federer and Andre Agassi in 2005.
KITE BEACH, 140KM TO FINISH LINE
Kite Beach is Dubai’s favourite community beach – a picture-postcard destination and a perfect place for the adventurous and playful, just fifteen minutes from Downtown Dubai. There’s plenty to do on this half-kilometer stretch of white sands, where crashing blue waves popular with kite surfers earned the beach its name. There are water sports activities; beach racket sports, fitness and yoga classes, obstacle courses, trampolines, and over 30 fun and quirky cafes – not to mention options to shop and play. Kite Beach is also a special place on New Year’s Eve, where revellers gather to watch the fireworks and celebrate beneath the stars.
AL MARMOON RESERVE, 100KM TO FINISH LINE
Spanning 10% of Dubai’s total area is the Al Marmoom Desert Conservation Reserve project, the largest unfenced nature reserve in the UAE. The reserve – which is open to the public – is also home to the region’s largest renewable energy project, the Mohammed Bin Rashid Solar Park. Known for its admirable sustainability initiatives, the reserve is abundant with native wildlife. It hosts one of the largest populations of Arabian oryx in Dubai and the highest concentration of large flamingos in the UAE. It also provides shelter to many other endangered species that have been successfully relocated to the area. Enjoying over 40 hectares of shrubland and fertile area, the reserve is home to over 204 species of native birds 158 species of migratory birds, and over 10km of lakes, encompassing the Al Qudra Lakes. Additionally, a variety of reptile species can also be found across Al Marmoom’s different habitats. The 3,000-year-old Saruq Al Hadid archaeological site – one of the oldest sites in the country that dates back to the Iron Age – is also located within the reserve, making it a popular cultural and historical attraction.
AL QUDRA CYCLING TRACK, 100KM TO FINISH LINE
Al Qudra Cycling Track is a popular destination among Dubai’s adventure seekers. The track is 86 kilometres, boasting amazing views of the desert where riders may even catch a glimpse of some local wildlife like the oryx. The track is popular among both professional and novice riders alike, and is frequented by both solo and group riders. It’s utilised by weekly cycling clubs, world-class athletes, and leisure riders visiting Dubai.
LAST EXIT, 100KM TO FINISH LINE
Last Exit is a first-of-its-kind themed food truck concept offering a selection of fresh and tasty gourmet street food in a chilled, fun, and convenient at- mosphere. Each location has its own unique theme created using upcycled materials, with entertainment for all ages to explore and discover, and a range of convenient services and amenities available 24/7.
Last Exit currently includes four destinations – Last Exit E11 and Last Exit Mad X on Sheikh Zayed Road, Last Exit D63 in Al Qudra, and Last Exit D89 in Al Khawaneej – with plans to expand the concept across Dubai by 2018.
AL MARMOON LAKES, 100KM TO FINISH LINE
Located in the Seih Al Salam desert, next to the Dubai cycling track, Al Marmoom Lake is a man-made area of lakes, 10 hectares large, home to more than 130 species of exciting birds. Al Marmoom is part of a project to green and enrich that part of the desert of Dubai. Here you can find glossy ibis, caspian plover, sanderling, ruddy turnstone, gull-billed tern and migratory birds like Eurasian wryneck, rosy starling, common starling, shrikes, wheatears, eagles and falcons.
DUBAI CREEK, 5KM TO FINISH LINE
Dubai Creek is a saltwater creek, cutting through the heart of Dubai. The seawater Dubai Creek winds its way from the trading port on the Gulf to the Ras al Khor bird sanctuary on the desert edge of Dubai. In the past it was the centre of the shing and pearling industry, which formed the main sectors of the city’s economy. Nowadays the eastern and western banks are connected by one tunnel and four bridges, but the traditional form of transport on the creek, which is still available, were ferry boats.
DUBAI SILICON OASIS, 0KM TO FINISH LINE
Dubai Silicon Oasis is a globally recognized free zone and an integrated technology park that allows people to live, work, and play. Hosting modern technology based industries and an urban master-planned community in an iconic location, DSO offers state-of-the-art infrastructure and in-house business services.
TV COVERAGE
UAE Tour Stage 1 International TV Schedule available here.
UAE TOUR APP
Download the official UAE Tour App now and stay updated on the race, riders' timings and all that's happening during the race:
UAE TOUR PRESS ROOM
From the official online pressroom the media can download high resolution pictures of the race. In order to download the pictures, just go to http://pressroom.rcssport.it/ (username: press/ password: press), select “Media”, then "Cycling", then UAE Tour. The photos are free of charge for editorial use, as long as both the UAE Tour and the photographer’s name is quoted.
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