Bradley Wiggins in for third Dubai Tour, now featuring Fujairah

Ali Khaled reports on the developing changes for the 2016 Dubai Tour, which will include star cyclist Bradley Wiggins and sees some interesting changes to the course.

The peloton rolls through in front of the Burj Al Arab earlier this year during the 2015 Dubai Tour. Claudio Peri / EPA / February 7, 2015

DUBAI // Olympic champion Bradley Wiggins will lead a star-studded peloton in the third edition of the Dubai Tour, which next year will feature a new stage that will include Fujairah for the first time.

The 2016 Dubai Tour will see 16 teams take part and will run between February 3-6. It will also be the longest yet, in terms of distance, with the four stages totalling a distance of 671km.

“I’m really excited to be racing with my team at the 2016 Dubai Tour,” a statement from Wiggins said. “really It’s an exciting event and we’re looking forward to competing with some of the best teams in the world.”

Previous winners, Taylor Phinney in 2014 and Mark Cavendish this year will also be present according to the organisers.

“After the big success of the last two years here we are proud to unveil the route for the new edition,” Saeed Hareb, general secretary of the Dubai Sports Council, said at the unveiling of the new routes and tour jerseys. “What’s new regarding the third tour is the increase of distance to 671km, also the start from the UAE Marine Club to Fujairah which is also a new distance and stage for the race.”

Stage 1, the Fujairah Stage (179km) is a coast-to-coast stage which will start at Dubai Marine International Club (DIMC), run through Sharjah and Ras Al Khaimah and end in Fujairah. Along the way it will touch the Silicon Oasis area, cut through long desert straights and dunes, traverse through a short and mild sequence of hills in Hatta Mountains before reaching Fujairah where the riders will have to complete two laps of a 6.6km circuit.

February 4 will see the Nakheel Stage which is made up of two parts, the first mostly in the desert on the outskirts of Dubai, with the second taking place in Dubai Marina and ending at the Atlantis Hotel on Palm Jumeirah.

The the toughest part of the Dubai Tour will be The Westin Stage, a 172km ride which will replicate almost entirely the inaugural edition stage, with the addition of the final climb of Hatta Dam as in this year’s race.

The Tour concludes on February 6 with the 132km Burj Stage which starts at DIMC and ends at Burj Khalifa, along the way taking in landmarks like Meydan Racecourse, Al Mamzar beach, Maktoum Bridge, Old Town, the Union Flag and Burj Al Arab.

Tour jerseys

Blue Jersey

General Classification: worn by the overall winner, the one who has proven to be the fastest and most consistent rider over the four stages. In 2015 the blue jersey was won by Mark Cavendish.

Sponsor: Commercial Bank of Dubai

Red Jersey

Points Classification: worn by the fastest sprinter, who has obtained the best positions in each stage and intermediate sprint. The red jersey was also won by Mark Cavendish, winner of two of four stages. Sponsor: Fly Emirates

White Jersey

Young Rider Classification: worn by the best young rider, the power and the future. In 2015 this jersey was gained by the Dane Michael Valgren. Sponsor: RTA (Roads and Transport Authority)

UAE Flag Jersey

Intermediate Sprint Classification: worn by the rider who gained more Intermediate Sprint Points than any other rider. Last year’s winner was the Italian Alessandro Bazzana. Sponsor: DHA (Dubai Health Authority​)

2016 Dubai Tour teams

UCI World Teams

Astana Pro Team (Kazakhstan)

BMC Racing Team (USA)

Dimension Data (South Africa)

Etixx-Quick Step (Belgium)

Lampre-Merida (Italy)

Movistar team (Spain)

team Giant- Alpecin (Germany)

Team Sky (Britain)

Tinkoff (Russia)

The Factory Racing (USA)

UCI Professional Continental Teams

CCC Sprandi Polkowice (Poland)

One Pro Cycling (Britain)

Team Novo Nordisk (USA)

UCI Continental Teams

SkyDive Dubai Pro Cycling Team – Al Ahli Club (UAE)

Team Wiggins (Britain)

National Selection

UAE National Selection

Follow us on Twitter @NatSportUAE

Like us on Facebook at facebook.com/TheNationalSport