UAE Tour Women prepares for grand return in February

The second edition of the UAE Tour Women will be highlighted by three sprint stages and a mountain climb to the summit of Jebel Hafeet, race organisers Abu Dhabi Sports Council announced on Wednesday.

The event, to be held from February 8 to 11, will start in Dubai and finish in Abu Dhabi, covering a total distance of 468km.

The women's peloton returns as the Middle East's only World Tour race; last year's debut edition was won by the Italian national champion Elisa Longo Borghini.

The same climb, averaging 8-9 % gradients, will be featured in this edition’s third stage, providing an opportunity for overall contenders to leave their mark on the race.

“We are delighted and proud to be here for the presentation of the second edition of the UAE Women’s Tour, hopefully a repeat of a very successful 2023 edition,” Aref Al Awani, General Secretary of Abu Dhabi Sports Council, said during the unveiling of the race route at the Abu Dhabi Cycling Club.

“The historic event last year was broadcast live worldwide, becoming a showcase for the territories touched by the race. In 2024, we will have some of the best female cyclists in the world competing in an event that aims to become one of the biggest in women's cycling and, at the same time, promote this sport in the region.”

Fabrizio D’Amico, chief operating officer of RCS Sports and Events and UAE Tour Director, added: “Building on the success of the inaugural event, confirmed by the reaction of the public and the industry, the UAE Tour Women returns to the World Tour calendar.”

The opening 122km stage in Dubai will be flagged off from the Dubai Miracle Garden and finish at Dubai Harbour. Stage 2 starts from Al Mirfa and crosses a large portion of the desert to Madinat Zayed,