Emirati cyclist Mohammad Al Murawwi believes the inaugural Dubai Tour will herald the beginning of the UAE as a cycling nation.

Taking place from February 5-8, the Dubai Tour will be the first major cycling event on these shores, bringing the cream of world cycling to the city, including British sprint champion Mark Cavendish and reigning Road World Champion Alberto Rui Costa.

Fighting the UAE cause will be the Skydive Dubai team that yesterday announced a partnership with Audi Dubai. As the most experienced local on the team, Al Murawwi will lead a group of Emirati rookies alongside seasoned veterans such as Francisco Mancebo – the captain – Oscar Pujol and Lucas Sebastian Haedo.

Al Murawwi said: “This is a big thing for the UAE, the race provides a benchmark. Cycling will now be referred to two eras, before the Dubai Tour and after the Dubai Tour.

“This is a big jump for cycling here, to develop teams, minds and everything that is related to cycling in the UAE, the region and other Arab countries. “The most important thing is having that race in Dubai, to inspire others, to give the riders experience and push UAE cycling.”

Participating in the event will be 16 teams of eight riders, including UCI Pro Teams, the UAE national team and Skydive Dubai squad. Each of the four stages will start at the Dubai World Trade Centre beginning with the Down Town stage, a 10km individual time trial.

Stages of 122km around Dubai and 162km finishing in Hatta follow with the final 124km stage in the city passing landmarks such as the Burj Al Arab and Burj Khalifa. The Skydive Dubai team will do well to match some of the world’s top riders, but then the team has been put together with an eye to the future rather than the present.