PETER SAGAN’S WORLD CHAMPION RAINBOW JERSEY
ON THE VERY FIRST ABU DHABI TOUR STARTING LINE
A hot week of great racing activity in the UAE capital territory begins today
with the Top Riders press conference: here is the official entry list
Abu Dhabi, 6 October 2015 – The debut of pro cycling in Abu Dhabi is also host to the premiere of the new World Champion Peter Sagan after the Slovakian’s stunning victory in Richmond, USA. Everything is ready for the new four-stage race, starting on Thursday 8 October, and culminating with the UCI Cycling Gala award ceremony on the night of the last stage, Sunday 11 October.
As well as Sagan, the entry list further boasts the Vuelta winner, the Italian Fabio Aru, his teammate and 2014 Tour de France dominator, Vincenzo Nibali, the first riders in the 2015 UCI ranking, the Spanish Alejandro Valverde, the Belgian puncheurs and former World Champions Philippe Gilbert and Tom Boonen, the sprinters duo Elia Viviani (Italy) and Marcel Kittel(Germany), the Colombian Esteban Chaves, the Chinese Xu Gang and the 2015 discovery, Dutchman Tom Dumoulin.
This impressive parade will be assembled this afternoon at 5.00pm at the F1 Yas Marina Circuit Events Center in the company of Mr Aref Hamad Al Awani, General Secretary of Abu Dhabi Sports Council and Mr Osama Al Shafar, President of the UAE Cycling Federation. Introduced by the Abu Dhabi Official Ambassador Mark Cavendish.
During the press conference will be also unveiled “Silent Speed”, the exclusive Abu Dhabi Tour trophy designed by Ferrari.
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May we draw your attention to the following:
Tuesday, October 6th
Yas Events Centre (Entrance from gate 20, Yas West Entrance)
2.00-7.00pm: accreditation and press room
Yas Marina F1 Circuit
4.00-4.30pm: Top Riders photoshoot (stills photographers only)
Yas Events Centre (Entrance from gate 20, Yas West Entrance)
5.00pm: Top Riders press conference
Wednesday, October 7th
10.00am - 7.00pm: accreditation and press room
11.00am: Race management meeting with photographers and TV
Thursday, October 8th
Stage 1 – The ADNOC Stage (174km)
From QASR AL SARAB to MADINAT ZAYED
SIGN-ON PROCEDURES: 11.30am - 12.45pm
LINE UP (TRANSFER 3.500 M): 12.50pm
ACTUAL START: 1.00pm
FINISH: 5.00pm
Race Headquarter: Al Dhafra Stadium Madinat Zayed UAE
Friday, October 9th
Stage 2 - THE CAPITAL Stage (129km)
From YAS MARINA CIRCUIT to YAS MALL
SIGN-ON PROCEDURES: 12.30-1.50pm
LINE UP (TRANSFER 4.000 M): 1.55pm
ACTUAL START: 2.05pm
FINISH: 5.00pm
Race Headquarter: YAS EVENTS CENTRE
Saturday, October 10th
Stage 3 - THE AL AIN Stage (142km)
From AL AIN (AL QATTARA SOUQ) to JEBEL HAFEET
SIGN-ON PROCEDURES: 12.00-1.20pm
LINE UP (TRANSFER 500 M): 1.25pm
ACTUAL START: 1.30pm
FINISH: 5.00pm
Race Headquarters: Mercure Grand Jebel Hafeet Al Ain Hotel Jebel Hafeet - AL AIN
Sunday, October 11th
Stage 4 - THE YAS Stage 110km
From YAS MARINA CIRCUIT to YAS MARINA CIRCUIT
SIGN-ON PROCEDURES: 3.00-4.35pm
LINE UP: 4.35pm
ACTUAL START: 4.40pm
FINISH: 7.00pm
Race Headquarters: YAS EVENTS CENTRE
UCI Cycling Gala award ceremony
Arrival: 8.30-9.00pm
Awards presentations: 9.00-10.00pm
Gala dinner: 10.00-11.30pm
#RideToAbuDhabi
The Abu Dhabi Tour, organised by the Abu Dhabi Sports Council in collaboration with RCS Sport, will take place from 8 to 11 October. It consists of four stages covering a total distance of 555km; three stages favour the sprinters, while the remaining stage (the 3rd), finishing uphill after a 750m climb with gradients touching 12%, will probably decide the General Classification.
#UCICyclingGala
In the evening of the last day the Tour will have the honour of hosting the very first UCI Cycling Gala awards ceremony. It’s a unique event to celebrate the end of the UCI professional road cycling season and its stakeholders in Abu Dhabi.
ROUTE INFORMATION
Stage 1 – The ADNOC Stage (174km): The entire stage takes place in the stunning Rub al Khali desert, part of Abu Dhabi’s Western Region. Starting among the red sand dunes that surround the beautiful Qasr Al Sarab Resort, the undulating race route accrues around 1,200m of vertical climbing. The riders will trace a ring around Liwa and the nearby oasis, passing through the town twice. The riders then head north along straight roads for 55km, with the slightest of downhill gradients, as far as the town of Madinat Zayed. After the first crossing of the finish line, the peloton then enters a final 15km loop, to be ridden just once. A mass sprint is expected, although the desert winds could influence the outcome.
Stage 2 – The Capital Stage (129km): A flat stage across the city, starting at the Yas Marina Circuit and heading towards the southern part of the city along wide and mostly straight roads. After the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque and the Exhibition Hall, the peloton turns back on itself, returning to Yas Island, then follows the Corniche until the Emirates Palace. There the riders will face a U-turn, cycling again alongside the Corniche until Yas Island, where the finish line is positioned next to the Yas Mall. Again, a mass sprint is expected.
Stage 3 – The Al Ain Stage (142km): The toughest stage of the inaugural Abu Dhabi Tour. Starting from Al Qattara Souq, the first 33km follow a series of broad, straight roads, then the peloton will trace a wide circle around the city, crossing the Green Mubazzarah oasis before starting the final climb. 11km long, the Jebel Hafeet ascent reaches an altitude of 1,000m on gradients that average 7.5% and touch 12% on the lower slopes. The climb, on wide, well surfaced roads and with long, sweeping bends, eases into a short descent with 1.5km to go, before resuming a shallow climb to the finish line. The final climb will, in all probability, decide the General Classification.
Stage 4 – The Yas Stage (110km): The entire stage takes place at night on the Yas Marina Circuit. 110km at night under the floodlights of the F1 Circuit. The peloton will complete 20 laps (5.5km each) culminating in the last Abu Dhabi Tour sprint. The circuit is wide and the surface is in impeccable condition.
