UAE Team Emirates continue their UCI World Tour this week, with European champion Alexander Kristoff captaining a team heading for the Tour of California (May 13-19).

The Norwegian goes into the tour in fine form having picked up his first win in UAE colours at Eschborn-Frankfurt.

He is supported by the UAE national champion, Yousif Mirza who is also going through somewhat of a purple patch, after a series of victories in the UAE and Asia, as well as picking up a recent UAE sporting recognition award.

Joining the duo will be teammates: Anass Ait El Abdia, Sven Erik Bystrom, Filippo Ganna, Kristijan Durasek and Edward Ravasi.

Kristoff said: “I hope to take at least one stage win like I did in 2016. I am well-trained and I feel ready to tackle the tour head on. I hope that I’m able to manage the jet-lag well, but it’ll be the same for all the riders coming from Europe.”

The 2018 Tour of California has thrown up an extremely competitive line-up, with the seven-day race being billed as the start of preparations for this year’s Tour de France.

Stage one will certainly suit the sprinters amongst the peloton, whilst Stage two could give some indication as to whom should be considered for the overall General Classification (GC), given the gruelling 12km climb to the summit finish on Gibraltar Road.