The Abu Dhabi Tour organisers will have their hands full for the next five months, during which they will plan and bring to life, not one, but two editions of the cycling event.
The four-day stage race that made its debut last year as a 2.1 category event, returns for a second staging next month, from October 20-23, upgraded to 2.HC.
Four months later, the third edition of the Abu Dhabi Tour will take place, from February 23-26, 2017, as part of the UCI WorldTour, which is the highest categorisation in world cycling.
The Abu Dhabi Tour’s request to gain WorldTour status was approved by the sport’s governing body last month as the UCI revealed an expanded calendar for 2017 that includes 10 new additions to cycling’s top flight.
The upgrade though means that the Abu Dhabi showpiece would move to February, instead of October, where it would bookend a four-week stretch in the Gulf region starting in Dubai, then Qatar, followed by Oman and finally the UAE capital.
While staging two races within a four-month period sounds like a daunting task, organisers are happy to take on the challenge.
“This just means that we will be in a continuous workshop for the next few months,” said Aref Al Awani, the secretary general of the Abu Dhabi Sports Council, who are joint organisers of the tour alongside RCS Sport.
“We are currently working on both the 2016 and 2017 editions and of course it is a huge effort. But it’s a positive kind of pressure and we hope to create a special platform for our sponsors, for the riders, and the spectators.
“We hope that people can feel the impact of this race, how it is helping sports tourism and how it raising the global recognition of Abu Dhabi.”
Mark Cavendish and other riders pose with the 2015 Abu Dhabi trophy.
The route of the 2016 Abu Dhabi Tour will be unveiled on Tuesday, along with the jerseys, at a press conference at the St. Regis Hotel in the Nation Towers, which will play host to the Race Village during the event.
“Placing the village there, at a mall, will bring more fans to the event. We are hoping for more interaction between the public and the riders, who will be staying at the St. Regis, right next to the Race Village,” explained Al Awani.
While the current focus is obviously on next month’s race, work has already begun for the 2017 tour. Getting WorldTour status comes with its own set of challenges. A greater number of the sport’s best teams will be flocking to Abu Dhabi next year, with all 18 WorldTour outfits taking part, compared to just 11 of them competing next month.
“Logistically it’s a bigger project because more teams will be attending,” said Al Awani.
“We will be part of the Gulf swing, that includes Dubai, Qatar, Oman and Abu Dhabi so we have to perform better and compete with the other events to make sure we stand out.
“On the other hand, the Gulf will have four consecutive races which is great for us. The riders will get to compete in similar conditions for a full month, which will conclude here in Abu Dhabi.
“This status upgrade is testament to our success from the first year, and it shows faith from the UCI in us. That was always the goal to get that status, we got approval right away and it will be held at a much better time, in February, which boosts Abu Dhabi’s place in the world of cycling. The race will be an important stop in the region, Asia and the world.”
Lorenzo Giorgetti, the CEO of RCS Sport, revealed that the upgrade will result in a longer race – not in terms of days, but in terms of distance covered.
“The race itself will become longer because the competition will cover much more kilometres. That will be possible because of the season, the weather in February is much better in terms of temperature compared to October, which will allow the riders to cover more distance. That will also make it possible for Abu Dhabi, as an emirate, to show more territory internationally,” said the Italian.
