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.
Everything is set for the new four-stage race, starting on Thursday, and culminating with the UCI Cycling Gala award ceremony on the night of the last stage on Sunday.
– INTERVIEW: Cavendish driving UAE boom
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 and former World Champions Philippe Gilbert and Tom Boonen, and the sprinters duo Elia Viviani and Marcel Kittel.
This impressive parade will be assembled on Tuesday afternoon at 5.00pm at the 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.