Just three days before the start of the UAE Tour, the first and only UCI World Tour race in the Middle East, the list of main contenders is taking shape. All eyes will be on Tadej Pogačar, who will wear the world champion jersey for the first time this season. The Slovenian rider is making his fourth appearance in this race, where he has previously won the Red Jersey twice and secured four stage victories.

Leading the list of challengers is Lennert Van Eetvelt, who in 2024 claimed his first major career victory by triumphing at the top of Jebel Hafeet. Other key riders expected to compete for top positions in the general classification include Pello Bilbao, Carlos Rodríguez, Alexey Lutsenko, Giulio Ciccone, and Einer Rubio. There's also curiosity about Giulio Pellizzari measuring himself against high-level opponents.

Significant attention is also focused on the strong lineup of top-tier sprinters who will battle for flat stage victories. Among them are Tim Merlier, the record holder with five stage wins, Jasper Philipsen and Dylan Groenewegen, both with two stage victories each, Olav Kooij, who secured a stage win in 2024, and Jonathan Milan, returning to competition after already winning early in the season. The group of top sprinters is completed by Fabio Jakobsen, Arvid De Kleijn, Phil Bauhaus, and Sam Welsford, all ready to animate the sprint battles.

(provisional start list for the UAE Tour attached in the PDF)

THE ROUTE OF THE 7TH UNITED ARAB EMIRATES TOUR

Monday 17 Stage 1 Shams Solar Central Madinat Zayed-Liwa Palace, 138 KM
Tuesday 18 Stage 2 Al Hudayriyat Island TUDOR ITT, 12.2 KM
Wednesday 19 Stage 3 Ras Al Khaimah-Jebel Jess, 181 km
Thursday 20 Stage 4 Fujairah Qidfa Beach-Umm al Quwain, 181 KM
Friday 21 Stage 5 American University of Dubai-Hamdan Bin Mohammed Smart University, 160 KM
Saturday 22 Stage 6 Abu Dhabi Cycling Club-Abu Dhabi Breakwater, 165 KM
Sunday 23 Stage 7 Al Ain Hazza Bin Zayed Stadium-Jebel Hafeet, 176 KM