The women’s UAE Tour concluded just over a week ago, with Elisa Longo Borghini (UAE Team ADQ) starting her season off with a fine overall win. Human Powered Health’s Maggie Coles-Lyster—after a fine run in Australia, including a big win—was 57th overall. National champ Alison Jackson was 71st, and EF’s Alex Volstad 87th. Coles-Lyster just missed out on a podium in Stage 1, and Jackson was 11th in Stage 4. Volstad also came within striking distance of a top-10 on Stage 3, in 12th.
The men’s race opens with a 144-km stage from Madinat Zayed to Liwa Palace. Although the profile suggests a likely sprint finish, exposed desert roads and forecast northwesterly winds could influence how the stage unfolds.
The route goes along wide highways and passes an intermediate sprint in Liwa. But then it gets interesting. The parcours follows dunes, where crosswinds may affect positioning. It’s hardly hilly–so the say is not expected to challenge the main sprinters Although the finishing rise of around five percent may favour riders with more of a punchy sprint.
Still, sprinter extraordinaire Jonathan Milan starts among the leading contenders, with Matteo Malucelli and Sebastián Molano are also riders to watch on the stage. National champ Derek Gee-West starts his season with a new national championship jersey—and after a long break from racing. He’s joined by Pier-André Côté, Riley Pickrell, and Nickolas Zukowsky.
To watch the race, tune into FloBikes.com. Coverage begins 5:50 a.m. EST. Canadian Cycling Magazine will also have a full report after the stage.
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