Cavendish and Dumoulin to ride 2018 Abu Dhabi Tour with added time trial and summit finish
The five stage race being held from 21-25 February in 2018 now features a short individual time trial
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The Abu Dhabi tour has grown to incorporate an extra stage in 2018, and the five day race will feature a short 11.8km individual time trial, following three sprint stages and preceding a mountain finish.
Full start lists are yet to be announced, but top confirmed riders include 2017 Giro d'Italia winner Tom Dumoulin (Team Sunweb), plus a selection of sprinters including Mark Cavendish (Team Dimension Data), Marcel Kittel (Katusha-Alpecin), Caleb Ewan (Mitchelton-Scott) and André Greipel (Lotto-Soudal).
Cavendish has just one win to his name at the race - the first stage of the 2017 edition. It'll be the Manxman's season debut, whilst Ewan and Greipel both have 2018 wins to their names this year already from the Tour Down Under.
The five day race in the desert is always likely to draw the sprinters in, with three stages promising fast finishes; though it's likely by the last day there will still be everything to play for when it comes to the GC - with the final stage ending atop of the Jebel Hafeet climb.
The slopes of the 12.5km climb have provided a springboard for climbers to launch a race winning attack in the past, with the past three winners - Rui Costa, Esteban Chaves and Tanel Kangert - using it to their advantage.
Riders will compete for the overall general classification (red jersey), points (green), intermediate sprints (black) and youth competition (white).
Abu Dhabi Tour 2018 route
Stage one, Weds Feb 21 2018 | Madinat Zayed t0 Adnoc School | Sprinters stage, 189km |
Stage two, Thurs Feb 22 2018 | Yas Mall to Yas Beach | Sprinters stage, 154km |
Stage three, Fri Feb 23 2018 | Nation Towers to Big Flag | Sprinters stage, 133km |
Stage four, Sat Feb 24 2018 | Al Maryah Island | ITT, 11.8km |
Stage five, Sun Feb 25 2018 | Qasr Al Muwaiji – Jebel Hafeet | Mountain finish, 199km |
Stage one: Madinat Zayed t0 Adnoc School: 189km
The first staged proved a perfect springboard for Cavendish in 2017 - but he'll have plenty of competition this year, too.
Stage two: Yas Mall to Yas Beach: 154km
A second sprint stage, running along the port.
Stage three: Nation Towers to Big Flag: 133km
The last opportunity for the sprints, and another drop in distance at 133km.
Stage four: Al Maryah island: 11.8km
A bit of respite for some riders at just 11.8km, but with time gaps likely to be minimal, testers could use this as an opportunity to get into the leader's jersey.
Stage five: Qasr Al Muwaiji – Jebel Hafeet: 199km
The final stage is likely to be pivotal when it comes to the overall winner, with the 12.5km climb coming at the end of this 199km day.
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Michelle Arthurs-Brennan is a traditional journalist by trade, having begun her career working for a local newspaper, where highlights included interviewing a very irate Freddie Star (and an even more irate theatre owner), as well as 'the one about the stolen chickens'.
Previous to joining the Cycling Weekly team, Michelle was Editor at Total Women's Cycling. She joined CW as an 'SEO Analyst', but couldn't keep her nose out of journalism and in the spreadsheets, eventually taking on the role of Tech Editor before her latest appointment as Digital Editor.
Michelle is a road racer who also enjoys track riding and the occasional time trial, though dabbles in off-road riding too (either on a mountain bike, or a 'gravel bike'). She is passionate about supporting grassroots women's racing and founded the women's road race team 1904rt.
Michelle is on maternity leave from July 8 2022, until April 2023.
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