The first Dubai Tour was an exercise in excellence

The world-renowned cycling event is now the UAE Tour and will take place this month

Cyclists in the peloton make their way along the Sharjah-Kalba road during the third stage of the first Dubai Tour in 2014. All photos: Christopher Pike / The National

Police supercars drive ahead of cyclists during the fourth stage of the Dubai Tour cycling race on February 8, 2014.

Diego Maradona waves to the crowd ahead of the finish of the fourth stage of the Dubai Tour cycling race in Dubai in 2014.

Cyclists ride by Burj Al Arab during the fourth stage of the first staging of the Dubai Tour cycling race in 2014.

Taylor Phinney, far right, of team BMC races during the fourth stage of the Dubai Tour cycling race in 2014. Phinney went on to claim the overall classification title.

Cyclists start the second stage of the 2014 Dubai Tour cycling race.

Cyclists await the start of the second stage of the Dubai Tour cycling race in 2014.

Cyclists await the start of the second stage of the Dubai Tour cycling race in 2014.

Ferrari Formula One driver Fernando Alonso greets members of team Omega Pharma at the starting line of the second stage of the Dubai Tour cycling race in 2014.

Tony Martin of Germany cycles during the first stage individual time trial of the Dubai Tour cycling race at the World Trade Centre in Dubai.

Jesus Herrada Lopez cycles during the first stage individual time trial of the Dubai Tour cycling race at the World Trade Centre in Dubai.

Marcel Kittel of team Giant Shimano celebrates winning the fourth stage of the 2014 Dubai Tour cycling race.

Cyclists ride through Jumeirah during the fourth stage of the cycling race.

The lead pack of cyclists ride during the fourth stage of the Dubai Tour cycling race.

Members of team Vini – Fantini Nippo prior to the second stage of the race.

Taylor Phinney, winner of stage one awaits the start of the second stage of the Dubai Tour cycling race.

Taylor Phinney, of BMC Racing Team, poses for photos after the second stage of the Dubai Tour cycling race.

Cyclists start the second stage of the Dubai Tour cycling race.

Taylor Phinney, of BMC Racing Team, poses for photos with local organisers after finishing third and retaining the blue leaders jersey after the second stage of the the Dubai Tour cycling race.

Raymond Kreder of the Netherlands cycles during the first stage individual time trial of the Dubai Tour cycling race at the World Trade Centre.

Manabu Ishibashi of Japan cycles during the first stage individual time trial of the Dubai Tour cycling race at the World Trade Centre.

The lead pack of cyclists ride past Burj Al Arab during the fourth stage of the Dubai Tour cycling race.

Taylor Phinney of team BMC poses with his team after winning the Dubai Tour cycling race.

Cyclists await the start of the second stage of the race.

Members of team Astana prior to the second stage of the Dubai Tour cycling race.

Former US cyclist Taylor Phinney may have won the overall title of the first Dubai Tour, but it was the UAE that ultimately triumphed, as the event set the wheels in motion for a thriving cycling scene.

There were four stages between February 5 and 8 in 2014, and the world's best riders and teams descended on Dubai for the region's first tour race.

The first stage was an individual time trial on a 10-kilometre route that started at the World Trade Centre and looped round Burj Khalifa before coming back on itself.

Stage two was a 121km sprint that wound through the city before culminating at the tip of Palm Jumeirah.

The medium mountain stage came next, with a 162km journey to Hatta, while the final round took in a 124km route that started at Burj Khalifa, then moved up to Burj Al Arab before looping round and heading to Old Dubai. Cyclists then rode a sprint that went up and down between the sail-shaped hotel and the older part of town.

Phinney, of BMC Racing Team, won the time trial and overall title, while German racer Marcel Kittel for Giant-Shimano was victorious in the three other stages and took the points jersey.

Other participants that year included Phinney's BMC teammate, British rider Steven Cummings, Denmark's Lasse Norman Hansen for Garmin-Sharp and, also from Germany, four-time time trial world champion Tony Martin.

The event, which is part of the UCI Asia Tour, continued for four years before it merged with the later-launched Abu Dhabi Tour and became the UAE Tour in 2019.

The UAE Tour 2022 will take place from February 20 to 26 and will feature four sprinters' stages, two mountain stages and a 9km high-speed individual time trial.

It will take in a range of landscapes and encompass several emirates, including Abu Dhabi, Fujairah, Ras Al Khaimah, Ajman and Dubai, from the Liwa desert to Hudayriyat Island and Expo 2020 Dubai.