Dubai will once again play host to some of the world’s top athletes when the country’s first ever professional cycling events gets underway at the Dubai World Trade Centre.
The four-day stage race begins on Wednesday 5 February and will feature some 128 riders representing 16 teams, including some legendary figures of the sport such as Germany’s three-time world trial champion Tony Martin and sprint king Mark Cavendish.
The Manxman has won a staggering 25 individual stages at the Tour de France but his dominance has come under threat from 25-year-old German rider Marcel Kittel who will be keen to defeat his illustrious rival in Dubai.
Cavendish, however, shrugged off the rivalry and preferred to lavish praise on his fellow Omega Pharma riders Mark Renshaw and Alessandro Petacchi.
“We’ve got a very strong team and I’m looking forward to seeing what we can do,” Cavendish told reporters at the Tour headquarters. “I’m happy with Mark Renshaw and Alessandro Petacchi, I feel I’ve got the two best lead-out men in the world, so I’m very happy and very lucky.”
The 2012 Olympian has enjoyed success in all three Grand Tours – Giro d’Italia, Vuelta a Espana and Tour de France – and is hopeful that he can impress while competing in such a picturesque location.
“I’ve come to Dubai on holidays so I know this place really well, I really like it here. To have four days of racing here in a beautiful setting is great. I’m excited,” added Cavendish.
While the 28-year-old was relaxed about his chances of winning individual stages, Kittel was in confident mood as he looks to continue his impressive start to the year.
“I’m very confident especially with the team that I have,” said Kittel, who enjoyed a breakout year in 2013. “I’m really looking forward to the sprints. We’ve got really strong boys and the stages are good for sprints, so if we watch out for the wind and if we stay in front then I think then we can be confident for the sprint stages.
“It’s good that there are so many good sprinters at the moment so nobody can afford to be lazy and everyone is 100 per cent focused and just trying to do his best.
“For sprinters, it’s flat, it’s not too hard, the stages are not too long, but you have to be really careful of the wind. I think in the next days it’s going to be one of the most important parts of the race – to watch out for the wind.”
Away from the two sprint specialists, reigning Giro d’Italia champion Vicenzo Nibali will be in action but he may well be slightly distracted as he revealed that his wife is currently due to eliver a baby girl later this month.
“My wife is due in 10 to 15 days but of course when I’m racing I’m always concentrating. There’s always a telephone around to get news from home,” explained Nibali.
The Italian is however looking forward to competing in Dubai and he has been impressed with the riders who have been attracted over for the inaugural event.
“I think that Dubai is a new territory for cycling and you can see the attraction. [Peter] Sagan is here, [Fabian] Cancellara is here, these are big names so even for the first edition it’s already pulling its weight.”
