UAE Team Emirates will continue its build-up to the UAE Tour this weekend as their riders head to the UAE’s southern neighbour to compete in the 10th edition of the Tour of Oman.

Yousif Mirza, who recently picked up a second win at the Al Aslam cycling race, will be joined by former World Champion, Rui Costa and sprint-specialist Alexander Kristoff.

Norwegian Kristoff will be aiming to build on hi simpressive eight stage wins in Oman over the past five years. The 31-year-old will be supported by compatriots Sven Erik Bystrom and Vegard Stake Laengen, Slovenian Jan Polanc and Italian Marco Marcato.

With a combination of flat and rolling parcours, combined with the summit finish on Jebel Akhdar, the Tour of Oman provides riders with a fitting test; particularly those who will head to the emirates to compete in the UAE Tour in just 10 days’ time.

Commenting ahead of the race, Alexander Kristoff said: “I won eight stages in the Tour of Oman, this means that my feeling with this race is pretty good. I hope to get a stage victory again this year. I was close in the last day in the Volta Valenciana, I think my shape is getting better and I have high motivations to get the stage win.”

Yousif Mirza said: “I was happy with my season debut in the Challenge Mallorca. Now, I’m going to race the Tour of Oman with the goal of giving my team captains everything I have and to reach the best possible shape heading towards the UAE championships.”

Thursday’s opening stage will see riders navigate a 138.5km route along the coast. The scenic road from Al Sawadi Beach to Sohar Corniche will see riders pass some of Oman’s most stunning beaches, before contesting the 1.3km straight into the finish.