There may be one small shock within the route for the 2024 UAE Tour, which usually options flat levels across the two main uphill finales at Jebel Jais and Jebel Hafeet. This yr the opening stage encompasses a new end at Liwa Palace and a brand new problem.Â
The oasis within the Rub’ Al Khali desert was featured for the set of Star Wars: The Pressure Awakens and Dune. The panorama rolls with giant dunes and the tarmac laid down throughout as that make up the Moreeb Dune cycle path will shake up the race with double-digit gradients and a slight uphill end.
A time trial returns on stage 2 however with a twist – somewhat than a group effort it is a person time trial with a collection of tight looping turns amid an in any other case easy take a look at on the out of doors sports-focussed leisure centre on Al Hudayriyat island.
The GC riders come out to play on stage 3 to Jebel Jais earlier than the race settles in for 3 flat dash levels earlier than the grand ultimate at Jebel Hafeet.
Stage 1: Al Dhafra Stroll Madinat Zayed-Liwa Palace, 143km
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The stage of the desert is one for the sprinters. Beginning in Al Dhafra Stroll Madinat Zayed, stage 1 heads south for 45km alongside broad, straight roads. After reaching Liwa, the route will enter an space of very pronounced dunes, which make up the majority of the stage. Bumpy terrain going to Moreeb Dune, the place the race will make two laps of the 18.1km-long Moreeb Dune cycle path characterised by somewhat steep ups and downs with double-digit gradients. The 143km stage returns to Liwa for the sprint barely uphill at round 3% to the end line.
Stage 2: Al Hudayriyat Island – Al Hudayriyat Island (ITT), 12.1km
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The 12.1km particular person time trial takes place solely inside Al Hudayriyat Island. The superbly flat and broad route with wide-ranging turns, a couple of right-angle bends and two successive U-turns ought to ship excessive speeds, winds allowing.
Stage 3: Al Marjan Island – Jebel Jais, 176km
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The primary of two mountain levels, stage 3 is split into two distinct components. Leaving Al Marjan Island, the undulating route heads to Ras al Khaimah and returns to the desert for the majority of the 176km stage. After the Ras al Khaimah airport, the race will head straight for Jais Mountain with a median gradient of 5%. The ultimate climb of roughly 20 km winds by broad hairpin bends the place gradients pitch as much as 9% round 2 km from the end.
Stage 4: Dubai Police Officer’s Membership – Dubai Harbour, 173km
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Stage 4 is one other flat stage for the sprinters. After beginning in Downtown Dubai with a passage across the Burj Khalifa earlier than crossing Deira and skimming previous the Large Flag, stage 4 will head out of town within the route of the desert earlier than returning to Dubai for a quick end in Dubai Harbour. One other probability for the sprinters to shine.
Stage 5: Al Aqah-Umm Al Quwain, 182km
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Departing from Al Awah to achieve Umm Al Quwain, stage 5 heads by the desert areas on the sting of the Hajar Mountains and continues on stretches of motorway till reaching Umm al Quwain for the ultimate dash.
Stage 6: Louvre Abu Dhabi Museum – Abu Dhabi Breakwater
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Beginning in Louvre Abu Dhabi, stage 6 heads to Saadiyat Island and Yas Marina the place the race continues westwards earlier than re-entering Abu Dhabi by Khalifa Metropolis. The 138km route continues over Al Reem Island and Al Maryah Island, and passes Qasr Al Hosn, earlier than the ultimate dash end at Abu Dhabi Breakwater.
Stage 7: Al Ain-Jebel Hafeet, 161km
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Stage 7 is the basic mountain stage of the UAE Tour. Beginning in Al Ain Bait Mohammed Bin Khalifa, the ultimate stage has change into the basic mountain take a look at of the UAE Tour, ending on Jebel Hafeet after passing symbolic landmarks. The 10km climb will likely be a defining level of the race and would be the final probability for these hopeful of profitable the purple jersey to make the distinction. The route up Jebel Hafeet winds by wide-ranging hairpin bends on a large roadway. Gradients are primarily round 8-9% with a pitch as much as 11%, 3 km from the end. There’s a very brief descent within the final km, earlier than the final ramp.
