Joint organisers, Dubai Sports Council and RCS Sport, unveiled the route of the 2017 Dubai Tour on Tuesday night at the spectacular City Walk, which will host the finish of the final stage of the event.
Positioned as the start of a four-race stretch of cycling events in the Arabian Gulf region in the month of February, the Dubai Tour is slowly becoming a favourite destination for the world’s top riders, who are looking to kick-off their season in favourable weather conditions.
The Dubai showpiece will be followed by the Tour of Qatar, the Tour of Oman and finally the Abu Dhabi Tour to close out a month of racing in the Gulf.
Both Qatar and Abu Dhabi were awarded WorldTour status while Dubai and Oman are 2.HC races.
“I think all four Tours complement each other,” Dubai Tour race director Huraiz bin Huraiz told reporters last night.
“It’s the beginning of the year, the weather is just perfect for riders to come to this part of the world, enjoying a beautiful touristic city like Dubai and have a great start of the season.
“That warms them up and gets them ready for the tough races coming ahead.”
The 2017 instalment of the Dubai Tour will visit sights never showcased before during the cycling spectacle. Day two, featuring the Ras Al Khaimah Stage, will take riders from the Dubai International Marine Club all the way to Ras Al Khaimah, passing through Sharjah, Ajman and Umm Al Quwain.
The following day, riders will make their way to Al Aqah in Fujairah while stage four will see them climb up the Hatta dam before concluding the Tour at City Walk in Dubai on day five.
“The 2017 Dubai Tour will be a very special edition because of the new additional competition day,” said Saeed Hareb, the secretary general of Dubai Sports Council.
“The extra stage allows us to better explore the surrounding territories. Lengthening the riders’ stay in Dubai keeps the media and fans’ interest in the event alive for longer.
“These are key to our strategy and the sponsors are rewarding this vision.”
Adding a stage and visiting six different emirates is undoubtedly a massive undertaking but Bin Huraiz feels confident his team is up to the task.
He said: “That’s what makes it interesting, if it’s the same old, same old, it’s not challenging. So we always look for a challenge and try to go to new areas. I believe the tour is getting more and more mature.”
Teams and riders taking part are yet to be announced but are expected to be revealed soon.