ITALIAN CHAMPION SHINES AT MADINAT ZAYED
Nizzolo claims seventh win of the year beating Degenkolb and Cavendish
after 147km of the inaugural stage of 2016 Abu Dhabi Tour

Madinat Zayed, 20 October 2016 – Reigning Italian champion Giacomo Nizzolo (Trek - Segafredo) won Stage 1 of the second Abu Dhabi Tour as he outsprinted John Degenkolb (Team Giant - Alpecin) and race ambassador Mark Cavendish (Team Dimension Data). Breakaway riders Gatis Smukulis (Astana Pro Team), Dion Smith (One Pro Cycling), Michael Matthews and Jens Keukeleire (Orica-BikeExchange) ended their adventure 7km before the finish line. Only a few days after his worthy fifth place at the World Championship road race, Nizzolo will start Stage 2, the Nation Towers stage, in Abu Dhabi wearing the Red Jersey of race leader.

STAGE RESULT
1 - Giacomo Nizzolo (Trek-Segafredo) 147km in 3h15’59”, average speed 45.003km/h
2 - John Degenkolb (Team Giant - Alpecin) at 4"
3 - Mark Cavendish (Team Dimension Data) at 6"

JERSEYS

• RED JERSEY, sponsored by Abu Dhabi Sports Council (General Classification by time) – Giacomo Nizzolo (Trek-Segafredo) 
• GREEN JERSEY, sponsored by Nation Towers (General Classification by points) – Giacomo Nizzolo (Trek-Segafredo) 
• WHITE JERSEY, sponsored by Abu Dhabi Sports (Best Young Rider, born after 1 January 1991) – Dion Smith (One Pro Cycling)
• BLACK JERSEY, sponsored by Etihad (Intermediate Sprint Classification) – Jens Keukeleire (Orica - BikeExchange)

QUOTES
In the press conference, today's stage winner and Red and Green Jersey said: "It means a lot for me to lead the Abu Dhabi Tour, especially after Sunday’s World Championships. A victory here is the best way to start. I asked my team to put me in a good place with 1km to go. At the roundabout 700m away from the line, I was well placed behind Giant-Alpecin and I managed by myself. I started my sprint with 200m to go. I don’t think I’m the fastest but we’ll try to defend the jersey tomorrow even though we’re here with a stagiaire and Niccolo Bonifazio who is not feeling very well."

After the finish line, the Black Jersey, Jens Keukeleire, said: "It was a little bit of a surprise to have two Orica-BikeExchange riders in the breakaway. At the start, many riders were trying to go and I found myself at the front with Michael Matthews. It was in single file, so I told Michael ‘let’s give it a crack’ and it was only him and me who went away. Sure it wasn’t the plan today but luckily two more guys came across and helped us out. The last 60km were hard in the headwind, and unfortunately we didn’t make it to the finish."



The White Jersey of Best Young Rider, Dion Smith, said: "It kind of just happened but when I was there in the breakaway, I first thought I’d go for the green jersey but the second option was the white jersey by gaining some time bonus. It worked out well; I got two second places there [in the intermediate sprints]. I’d like to defend the white jersey on the hilltop finish, we’ll see how long I can stay up there. The coming stages are interesting, I’m looking forward to them; this is my first time racing in the Middle East!"



TOMORROW'S STAGE: Stage 2 – NATION TOWERS STAGE / ABU DHABI – ABU DHABI (Al Marina) (115KM)
The second stage is mostly in the city. After the start, the peloton will travel on wide roads towards the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, and then towards Yas Island with a passage through Khalifa City, where there are several roundabouts and speed humps. After the Yas Island first Intermediate Sprint, the race goes to the Sheikh Zayed bin Highway towards Abu Dhabi Corniche. It follows a route within Reem Island – including the second Intermediate Sprint – then returns to the Corniche finish line. The entire route is on wide boulevards with road furniture constantly dividing the lanes.

Last km
The final 5km are on increasingly large roads with large semi-curves leading to the straight finish on asphalt.



POINTS OF INTEREST
NATION TOWERS - 115km to go
Nation Towers is a luxury complex comprising two towers that have world class facilities including The St. Regis Abu Dhabi hotel, loft apartments, office space, retail, cinemas, recreational amenities, a beach club and ample parking for residents and visitors.

ST. REGIS HOTEL - 115km to go
The St. Regis Abu Dhabi soars to new heights of splendour and service beyond expectation: in the vibrant heart of Abu Dhabi, it's the finest address in the city. Each of the hotel’s 283 rooms revels in a magnificent view of the alluring Abu Dhabi Corniche. The Abu Dhabi Suite, high on the skybridge between the two Nation Towers has an astonishing 360 degrees view. The signature St. Regis Butler Service is complimentary for every room in the hotel. Remède Spa in Abu Dhabi creates a sanctuary for guests and an experience which borders on mystical.
 
EMIRATES PALACE - 115km to go
A real iconic Abu Dhabi landmark. During daytime, the hotel’s golden-sandy colour contrasts with its fresh green gardens, silvery water fountains and the blue sky. At night, the hotel’s lighting changes subtly, featuring a majestic rainbow-changing effect over the main dome. The main Palace building stretches over a kilometre from wing to wing, and its gardens and surroundings spread across 100 hectares. The hotel features 114 domes, with the central dome at an imposing 72.6m above ground.
 
ZAYED SPORT CITY - 106km to go
This giant sports complex is home to everything from basketball and beach volleyball facilities to tennis courts, a football stadium and a fitness centre. It also has a bowling alley and an ice rink open to visitors. The ZSC’s International Tennis Centre – with six training courts and a centre court with a spectator capacity of 5,000 – hosts the annual Mubadala World Tennis Championship.

ADNEC - 105km to go
The Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Centre is the largest exhibition centre in the Middle East with a total space of 133,000m². It was opened by Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates in 2007. ADNEC is owned by the Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Company and last summer hosted the very first Abu Dhabi Sports Festival organised by the Abu Dhabi Sports Council (ADSC).

SHEIKH ZAYED GRAND MOSQUE - 96km to go
This architectural work of art is one the world’s largest mosques, with a capacity for an astonishing 40,000 worshippers. It features 82 domes, over 1,000 columns, 24 carat gold gilded chandeliers and the world's largest hand knotted carpet. The mosque's first ceremony was the funeral of its namesake, Sheikh Zayed, who is buried at the site. Reflective pools surround the mosque, amplifying its beauty: the striking white and gold colours shining in the sun are transformed at night by a unique lightning system which reflects the phases of the moon.

AL RAHA HOTEL - 67km to go
Set in landscaped gardens along a stretch of white sandy beach, this five-star hotel is on the Al Raha Corniche. It has rooms and suites including a brand new, luxuriously furnished wing. There are also 24 exclusive, seafront villas which have a choice of 2, 3 or 4 bedrooms, adjacent to the main hotel.

ALDAR HQ - 65km to go
The world’s first round skyscraper, Aldar HQ stands on a raised peninsula and offers stunning views over the city and the coast. At 110m high with 23 floors and it’s considered as one of the world’s most beautiful company offices. (Aldar is an investment company operating in the real estate sector with its HQ in Abu Dhabi. It has implemented the entire Yas Island project).

ETIHAD AIRWAYS HQ - 64km to go
Etihad Airways has its head office and training center in Khalifa City, near Abu Dhabi International Airport.

MASDAR - 62km to go
Masdar is the Emirate’s pioneering vision of a city of the future. With the goal of becoming the world’s most sustainable eco-city, Masdar is leading the way by developing a “greenprint” for how cities can accommodate rapid urbanisation and dramatically reduce energy, water and waste. The city combines ancient Arabic architectural techniques with modern technology and is built around a huge central Arabic wind tunnel that channels a cooling breeze through the streets and alleys making it comfortable to stroll around even during high summer temperatures. More than a thousand people live and work at Masdar City, which sprawls around the Masdar Institute of Science and Technology – a research university dedicated to cutting-edge solutions in the fields of energy and sustainability.

YAS ISLAND - 60km to go
As an emerging leisure destination only 30 minutes from the UAE capital, Yas Island features the state-of-the-art Yas Marina Circuit that plays host to the Formula1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix every year, as well as theme parks, exclusive hotels and golf courses.
 
YAS WATERWORLD - 55km to go
Yas Waterworld Abu Dhabi is inspired by the UAE’s rich heritage of pearl diving through its unique story of ‘The Legend of the Lost Pearl’. The UAE’s first mega waterpark is home to 45 exhilarating rides, slides and attractions – five of which can be found nowhere else in the world. Top attractions are Dawwama – the world’s first hydro-magnetic tornado waterslide, as well as the globe’s first interactive water and laser rollercoaster, Bandit Bomber.
 
FERRARI WORLD, ABU DHABI - 55km to go
The world’s first Ferrari-branded theme park is home to a winning mix of Ferrari inspired rides and attractions, the biggest Ferrari Store and a range of authentic Italian dining options. Attractions include the highest rollercoaster loop in the world (Flying Aces) and the world’s fastest rollercoaster (Formula Rossa) with a top speed of 250kmph achieved in a mere 4.9 seconds.

YAS MALL - 53km to go
With a surface of 235,000m² and 10,000 parking places, the Yas Mall is the largest mall in Abu Dhabi and the second largest in the Emirates. With over 60 restaurants and coffee shops, Yas Mall also features a 4D movie hall, the super maxiscreen of the VOX movie theatre and, among other things, the first Lego Concept Store in the region.
 
SAADIYAT ISLAND - 35km to go
Just seven minutes from downtown Abu Dhabi and 20 minutes from Abu Dhabi International Airport, the 27km² Saadiyat Island is undergoing a remarkable transformation into a world class leisure, residential, business and cultural hub of global proportions, housing the world's largest single concentration of premier cultural assets. These will include the Zayed National Museum, Louvre Abu Dhabi and Guggenheim Abu Dhabi - all designed by Pritzker prize winners.

LOUVRE ABU DHABI - 35km to go
Designed by Pritzker Prize-winning architect Jean Nouvel, the Louvre Abu Dhabi is part of the tourist and cultural development for Saadiyat Island, a complex which is planned to host three further museums, including a Guggenheim Museum and the Zayed National Museum. The Louvre Abu Dhabi will welcome visitors in 2017 and its opening date is expected to be announced soon.
 
MANARAT AL SAADIYAT - 35km to go
Manarat Al Saadiyat (in Arabic literally means 'a place of enlightenment') is a 15,400m² arts and culture centre, designed to bring the vision of the island to life through The Saadiyat Story. The venue also features four gallery spaces. The main galleries of Manarat Al Saadiyat constitute of permanent spaces for a series of exhibitions and educational programmes organised by Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority.
 
UAE PAVILION - 35km
 to go
Moved piece by piece from Shanghai, where it welcomed almost two million visitors to the UAE’s national exhibition during the World Expo 2010, the UAE Pavilion is emerging as a new landmark exhibition and events venue. Hosting some of the country’s most important cultural functions, the striking dune-shaped structure was designed by London’s acclaimed Foster and Partners.

SADIYAAT BEACH - 33km to go
Set on the island’s serene natural shores, the 400m beach is a great spot for a day out, and to enjoy Abu Dhabi’s clean, warm turquoise waters. There are lounge chairs, showers, bathrooms, lockers, changing rooms, towels, umbrellas, ample parking and lifeguards are on duty throughout the day. There’s a snack lounge and shop selling beachwear and sports equipment, while areas on the beach can also be booked for special events.

NEW YORK UNIVERSITY - 30km to go
NYU Abu Dhabi is a research university with a fully integrated liberal arts and science college in the Marina district of Saadiyat Island. It draws students from around the world, and prepares them for the challenges and opportunities of our interconnected world. Together with New York University in New York City and New York University Shanghai, the portal campus is part of NYU’s Global Network University.

AL MARYAH ISLAND - 22km to go
Al Maryah Island is a 114 hectare mixed-use development, and the capital’s International Financial Center. Following the issuance of Federal Decree in February 2013 and located on Al Maryah Island, the Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) was established as a financial free zone. Situated at the midpoint between Abu Dhabi’s existing downtown district, Reem Island and the new cultural district on Saadiyat Island, Al Maryah Island is comprised of commercial, hotel, retail, leisure, healthcare, and residential components. The most famous is the luxury shopping mall The Galleria. Boasting landmark architecture and a state-of-the-art, multi-tiered transport infrastructure, Al Maryah Island is establishing itself as a lively 24-hour urban hub at the heart of the city.

AL REEM ISLAND - 20km to go
In Al Reem Island, a residential and commercial district off the Abu Dhabi coast, you can see one of the architectural symbols of the Emirates: the Gate Towers, a complex of interlinked towers reminiscent of Stonehenge. The Paris-Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi is located in the centre of the Island. Characterized by a grand central dome, the Emirate seat of the Parisian university is the first French high-education institution that was inaugurated in the Gulf as well as the first international university campus.
 
ABU DHABI CORNICHE - 10km to go
The Corniche Road spreads across an impressive 8km of manicured waterfront that includes children’s play areas, separate cycle and pedestrian pathways, cafés and restaurants, and the Corniche Beach - a lifeguarded beach park where the sea has been awarded the International Blue Flag.

ADNOC HQ - 2km to go
The ADNOC HQ is hosted in a skyscraper on the Abu Dhabi Corniche. The building incorporates energy efficiency and sustainable engineering technologies, such as a double skin façade, photovoltaic glazing and LED exterior lighting. Designed by HOK, the overall building complex consists of more than 65 floors with an office tower, Corniche Club, SPC and Crisis Management Centre, a heritage museum and other supporting facilities.
 
ETIHAD TOWERS - 2km to go
This five tower complex invites residents and visitors to live, work, stay, shop and dine in one destination with panoramic city and Arabian Gulf views. The complex also includes three residential towers and the 280m high, five-star Jumeirah at Etihad Towers hotel. The Avenue at Etihad Towers is one of the world’s most expensive and exclusive collections of boutique shops, with many having luxurious private rooms for VIP shopping.
 
BIG FLAG - Finish
A 122m pennon (Guinness World Record in 2001) holds an imposing flag of impressive size (20m x 40m). It was inaugurated to celebrate the country’s 30th anniversary.

TV COVERAGE
The 2016 Abu Dhabi Tour is being shown in 177 countries, across all five continents; 13 TV networks are broadcasting the race, seven of them live.
Abu Dhabi Sports, host broadcaster of the event, is producing and showing the full coverage of each stage, from the first turn of the pedals to the finish line victories, in the United Arab Emirates and across the whole Middle East and North Africa region.
Eurosport is broadcasting the event live on its European and Asia Pacific channels, from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean. Live coverage is also available to cycling audiences in Italy (on the free-to-air channel Rai Sport 1), China (thanks to LETV), Japan (on the new platform DAZN), New Zealand (on Sky Sports network), Mexico and Central America (thanks to TDN).
Highlights of the race are being offered by ESPN all across South America and the Caribbean, by Fox Sports in Australia, by True Visions in Thailand and by FPT Telecom in Vietnam. Next month, highlights will also be available on Cycling TV.
The press agency SNTV is distributing the event news via its international circuits.

#RideToAbuDhabi

مرحباً (MARHABAN!) FROM STAGE 1 OF THE ABU DHABI TOUR

Madinat Zayed, 20 October 2016 – Ù…رحباً (Marhaban!) from Stage 1 of the Abu Dhabi Tour (20-23 October 2016), organised by the Abu Dhabi Sports Council with the collaboration of RCS Sport. Starting and finishing in Madinat Zayed, the largest town and the administrative centre of Al Gharbia, the largest and westernmost region in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, the stage will be 147km long, raced mostly in the desert.

During the stage, 36 Green Jersey Points (of a race total of 152), 16 Black Jersey Points (of a race total of 72), and 16 seconds in time bonuses are up for grabs. Details of time bonuses and the various sub-competitions are given below.

The peloton, 106 riders strong, passed km 0 at 13.15. Did not start: dossard number 173, Matteo Busato.

DOWNLOAD

• Abu Dhabi Tour official start list
• Abu Dhabi Tour official roadbook
• Abu Dhabi Tour route details

Yousif Mirza, nicknamed "the Arab Pistolero", and Alberto Contador,
the world's most famous "El Pistolero"

STAGE AND TIMINGS
Stage 1 – ADNOC Stage (147km)
From Madinat Zayed to Madinat Zayed
Finish: Approx. 5.00pm
Race Headquarters: Al Dhafra Stadium, Madinat Zayed, UAE


ROUTE
The first stage runs entirely into the desert, with the first and last parts of about 45km on straight, wide roads. Once in Liwa for the first Intermediate Sprint, riders will find a short circuit characterised by constant undulations over dunes, adding up to a significant total elevation. After a second Intermediate Sprint passage in Liwa, the second part of the stage takes the riders to Madinat Zayed, where the stage will finish.

Last km
A city path with only three proper bends, one to the right and two to the left (the final bend being to the left). The last kms are on wide, straight boulevards, punctuated by wide-curved roundabouts. The final km is straight on asphalt.



JERSEYS
Red Jersey, sponsored by Abu Dhabi Sports Council (General individual classification by time), and White Jersey, sponsored by Abu Dhabi Sports (Best Young Rider born after 1 January 1991).
NOTE: Time bonuses: Intermediate Sprints: 3, 2 and 1 seconds for positions 1, 2 and 3. Finish line: 10, 6 and 4 seconds for positions 1, 2 and 3.
Stages 1, 2 and 3 have two intermediate sprints and a maximum possible 16 seconds of time bonuses. Stage 4 has three intermediate sprints and a maximum possible 19 seconds of time bonuses. The maximum possible time bonuses for the whole race is 67 seconds.

Green Jersey, sponsored by Nation Towers (General individual classification by points)
NOTE: Green Jersey Points - Intermediate Sprints: 8, 5, 3 and 1 points for positions 1, 2, 3 and 4. Finish line: 20-16-12-9-7-5-4-3-2-1 (points for first ten riders).
A maximum possible 36 points are up for grabs in each of stages 1, 2 and 3; and 44 points are available for stage 4.

Black Jersey, sponsored by Etihad (Intermediate Sprint classification by points)
NOTE: Black Jersey Points - Intermediate Sprints only: 8, 5, 3 and 1 points for positions 1, 2, 3 and 4.
A maximum possible 16 points available for each of the first three stages, and 24 points are available on stage 4.



POINTS OF INTEREST
MADINAT ZAYED - Start
Madinat Zayed, the administrative centre of the Al Gharbia region with 29,000 inhabitants, was founded in 1968 by Sheik Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan. The main tourist attraction of the town is its camel racing track.

BAYNOUNAH INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY - 147km to go
Top class educational complex with four-storey buildings to accommodate more than 3,000 students. In addition to classrooms, laboratories and lecture halls dedicated for each educational institution, the complex includes a 1,200-seat auditorium, libraries for boys and girls and sport facilities.
 
SHAMS SOLAR POWER STATION - 147-141km to go
Shams is one of the world’s largest solar power stations, with a capacity of 100 megawatts covering an area of over 2.5km². The parabolic trough mirror system of solar collectors concentrates the sun’s rays that are then transformed in electric power through a turbine. The power station’s impact can be compared with planting 1.5 million trees or reducing the road traffic in the country by 15,000 vehicles.
 
LIWA OASIS - 87-55km to go
A historical oasis at the outskirts of the legendary Rub Al Khali (Empty Quarter), in the Al Gharbia region, Liwa is famous for its vast desert sand plains and high dunes. It features a large date palm plantation of over 100,000 trees – an ecosystem that has been officially recognized by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), as it is a valuable mine of genetic resources and biodiversity, and a site of great cultural heritage.



TV COVERAGE
The 2016 Abu Dhabi Tour is being shown in 177 countries, across all five continents; 13 TV networks are broadcasting the race, seven of them live.
Abu Dhabi Sports, host broadcaster of the event, is producing and showing the full coverage of each stage, from the first turn of the pedals to the finish line victories, in the United Arab Emirates and across the whole Middle East and North Africa region.
Eurosport is broadcasting the event live on its European and Asia Pacific channels, from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean. Live coverage is also available to cycling audiences in Italy (on the free-to-air channel Rai Sport 1), China (thanks to LETV), Japan (on the new platform DAZN), New Zealand (on Sky Sports network), Mexico and Central America (thanks to TDN).
Highlights of the race are being offered by ESPN all across South America and the Caribbean, by Fox Sports in Australia, by True Visions in Thailand and by FPT Telecom in Vietnam. Next month, highlights will also be available on Cycling TV.
The press agency SNTV is distributing the event news via its international circuits.



#RideToAbuDhabi