UAE TOUR WOMEN 2024: THE ROUTE HAS BEEN ANNOUNCED
The second edition of the one and only UCI Women’s WorldTour race in the Middle East will run from the 8th to the 11th of February. Three sprint stages and the uphill finish on Jebel Hafeet are on the menu. Riders will compete for the race’s Red, Green, White and Black jerseys – sponsored by Al Ain Water, Tadweer, Burjeel Holdings and Aldar respectively, and provided by Alé.
United Arab Emirates, 15 January 2024 – Three stages for sprinters and an uphill finish. This is the menu of the 2nd edition of the UAE Tour Women, which will take place from 8th to 11th February 2024. Abu Dhabi Sports Council, the race organisers, are pleased to confirm that the race will start in Dubai and finish in Abu Dhabi after a total of 468 km.
The women’s peloton will head to the Middle East’s one and only World Tour race for the second time after last year’s debut edition won by the Italian National champion Elisa Longo Borghini, who took the Red Jersey atop Jebel Hafeet. The same climb, averaging 8-9% gradients, will be featured in this edition’s 3rd stage, providing one shining opportunity for each team’s overall contender to leave their mark on the race.
QUOTES
H.E. Aref Al Awani, General Secretary of Abu Dhabi Sports Council said: “We are delighted and proud to be here for the presentation of the second edition of the UAE Women’s Tour, a repeat demonstration of a very successful 2023 edition both in terms of quality, with stage winners of the highest international level, and in terms of the media, as this historic event was broadcast live worldwide, becoming a showcase for the territories touched by the race. Even 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 RCS Sports and Events and UAE Tour Director said: “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. This year promises even more excitement, showcasing the resilience, skills, determination of the athletes on the global stage. This event is not just a race; it’s a testament to the UAE’s unwavering commitment to fostering the growth of women in the sport. We want to drive more and more attention to this event, which is the only one at World Tour level in the Middle East for both men and women”.
THE ROUTE OF THE 2ND UAE TOUR WOMEN
08.02.2024 Stage 1 Dubai Miracle Garden-Dubai Harbour, 122 KM
09.02.2024 Stage 2 Al Mirfa Bab Al Nojoum-Madinat Zayed, 113 KM
10.02.2024 Stage 3 Al Ain Police Museum-Jebel Hafeet, 128 KM
11.02.2024 Stage 4 Louvre Abu Dhabi Museum-Abu Dhabi Breakwater, 105 KM
STAGE 1, DUBAI MIRACLE GARDEN-DUBAI HARBOUR, 122 KM
The route
A stage in Dubai. Starting in Dubai Miracle Garden, the race will pass the classic sites of these stages such as Dubai Sports City, Al Qudra Cycle Track, and Dubai Global Village finishing in Dubai Harbour The entire route winds along very wide, and substantially straight, roads interspersed with roundabouts that have a very large radius and are well paved.
Final kilometres
The ending is on a wide avenue, with the approach to the finish line on asphalt.
STAGE 2, AL MIRFA BAB AL NOJOUM-MADINAT ZAYED, 113 KM
The route
The stage of the desert. It starts from Al Mirfa on the Arabian Gulf coast and crosses a large portion of desert (over 60 km) to Madinat Zayed. There are wide, straight roads punctuated by sequences of roundabouts once you arrive in the built-up area.
Final kilometres
The last 10 km are on a wide straight road.
STAGE 3, AL AIN POLICE MUSEUM-JEBEL HAFEET, 128 KM
The route
The classic mountain stage of the UAE Tour. In the first part, the route winds its way through Al Ain, where many of its landmarks are visited (Hazza bin Zayed Stadium, UAE University), and then takes a long tour of the desert along Truck Road E30 until it returns to Green Mubazzarah. Here the final climb of Jebel Hafeet begins, which with its 10 km section will be the final judge of the race.
Final kilometres
The final climb winds through wide-ranging hairpin bends on a 3-lane roadway. Gradients are mainly around 8-9% with a peak of 11%, 3 km from the finish. There is a very short descent in the last km, before the last ramp. The finish line is on straight asphalt.
STAGE 4, LOUVRE ABU DHABI MUSEUM-ABU DHABI BREAKWATER, 105 KM
The route
Stage around the city of Abu Dhabi. Starting from Louvre Abu Dhabi, the first part of the route heads to Saadiyat Island and then to Yas Marina. It returns to Abu Dhabi City and passes over Al Reem Island (Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi) and Al Maryah Island. It then passes in Qasr Al Hosn, arriving at Abu Dhabi Breakwater for a sprint finish.
Final kilometres
The last 5 km are on a wide road with large semi-curves that lead to the finish line on asphalt.
THE OFFICIAL LEADER JERSEYS
The official race jerseys will be provided by Italian brand, Alé, a company with a deep feminine soul. Alé knows the importance of offering women technical, comfortable garments with a specially designed fit and unique style. The brand’s love for women’s cycling led to the birth of the Alé BTC Ljubljana women’s team in 2011, later becoming the first Italian team to join the UCI World Tour in 2020.
Red Jersey
General Classification: worn daily, starting from Stage 2, by the leader of the General Classification by time.
Sponsor: Al Ain Water
Green Jersey
Points Classification: worn daily, starting from Stage 2, by the fastest sprinter, who has obtained the best placement in each stage and intermediate sprints.
Sponsor: Tadweer
White Jersey
Young Rider Classification: worn daily, starting from Stage 2, by the best young rider (U25) in the overall classification by time.
Sponsor: Burjeel Holdings
Black Jersey
Intermediate Sprint Classification: worn daily, starting from Stage 2, by the rider who has gained more Intermediate Sprint Points than any other rider.
Sponsor: Aldar
Official Sponsors of The 2024 UAE Tour Women
Alongside the ‘Top Sponsors’ of the four jerseys (Al Ain Water, Tadweer, Burjeel Holdings and Aldar) gratitude is also expressed to the following sponsors.
Stage Sponsors: Dubai Sports Council, Modon, Presight.ai; Stage partners: Dubai Miracle Garden, Dubai Harbour, Bab Al Nojoum and Louvre Abu Dhabi; Host Broadcasters: Abu Dhabi Sports Channel; Official Partners: Alé (Official Jersey), Tudor (Official Timekeeper), Bin Hamoodah Auto (Official Car Partner), Abu Dhabi Aviation (Official Partner) and Tadweer (Official Partner).
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