UAE Tour 2020: Team Ineos, UAE Team Emirates, Team Jumbo-Visma and all other teams competing in Emirates

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  • The Emirates is gearing up for the second edition of the UAE Tour – the one and only UCI WorldTour event in the Middle East – which will welcome some of the world’s top cyclists when it gets under way in Dubai on February 23.

    The Tour will boast an enviable line-up of cycling’s top superstars as 18 UCI WorldTour teams and two UCI ProTeams have committed their best riders to the race, which will visit all seven emirates.

    Here, we look at every team and the riders to watch ahead of the UAE Tour.

    BORA-HANSGROHE

    Rafael Majka is likely to be the German team’s General Classification contender in the UAE, and don’t be surprised if you see the Polish rider in the polka dot jersey by the final day in Abu Dhabi.

    Main man: Pascal Ackermann – Took victory at the Clasica de Almeria this week to add to his two second places already this season. A fine rider.

    BAHRAIN-MCLAREN

    The Gulf side will bring plenty of firepower to the Emirates, thanks largely to the signings of Wout Poels and Mark Cavendish. Poels, one of the strongest climbers in the world, will be hoping to make an instant impact with his new outfit.

    Main man: Mark Cavendish – A new season and new team is the perfect chance for the Manx Missile, who turns 35 in May, to prove he still has the legs to contend for victory.

    COFIDIS

    Rode like a top-end team for much of last season, clocking up 20 wins in the process. Have plenty of new riders set to sparkle this year, including sprinting supremo Elia Viviani.

    Main man: Jesus Herrada – Has buckets of talent as evidenced by edging Romain Bardet to win the Mount Ventoux Denivele Challenge.

    Gazprom – RusVelo

    Will be bidding to improve on their two victories from 2019. A fast start in the UAE will set the tone for a promising year.

    Main man: Dmitry Strakhov – Vyborg man spearheads his side’s ambitions in the mountains. Will be hoping for better form after a subpar season.

    NTT PRO CYCLING

    The self-styled African team will seek to improve on several disappointing seasons so far. It is hoped that team manager Bjarne Riis can turn the ailing ship around in 2020.

    Main man: Victor Campenaerts – The UCI Hour Record holder posted two stage wins last year and finished second at the Belgium Tour. One of the top time-trialists in the world.

    CCC TEAM

    The new team name of BMC Racing. Gone are the recognisable black and red colours, and in is the new orange. Richie Porte and Tejay van Garderen have departed. Jakub Mareczko and Ilnur Zakarin will provide the challenge in the UAE.

    Main man: Jakub Mareczko – Italian is the form rider for CCC, finishing second on stage 1 of the recently concluded Tour de La Provence.

    DECEUNINCK-QUICK STEP

    A team that can do it all and will be firmly at the sharp end of the peloton when it comes to the sprint stages. In new man Sam Bennett, they possess one of the best sprinters in the game.

    Main man: Sam Bennett – The Irishman won a stage at the Down Under last month and followed it up with a win at the Race Torquay one day race.

    MITCHELTON-SCOTT

    Enjoyed another successful 2019 season, including the team’s best-ever Tour de France, with four stage wins. The Yates brothers, Simon and Adam, will once again be the squad’s stand-out riders.

    Main man: Adam Yates – Four stages triumphs to his name last term, including polka dot jersey triumphs at CRO Race and Itzulia Basque Country.

    TEAM INEOS

    Arguably the team of the decade, having won the Tour de France seven times since 2012. Boast a strong line-up in the UAE, with Chris Froome and world time-trial champion Rohan Dennis in action.

    Main man: Chris Froome – The Briton is determined to make a comeback after his serious injuries and ride the Tour de France. May face a race against time to be at his best.

    ISRAEL START-UP NATION

    The new team look equipped to compete for stage wins this season. In Dan Martin, they have a proven winner and a man who can compete at Grand Tours and hilly classics.

    Main man: Rudy Barbier – Notched a stage win and finished second and third in another two at the Vuelta a San Juan last month.

    TREK-SEGAFREDO

    It’s not really happened for the team who burst onto the scene, armed with the Schleck brothers nearly a decade ago. Without Richie Porte, hope will lie in the favour of Gianluca Brambilla and Giulio Ciccone in UAE.

    Main man: Giulio Ciccone – The Giro d’Italia King of the mountains will be one to watch in the Emirates.

    TEAM SUNWEB

    The German team will be relying on Wilco Kelderman to challenge for GC honours in the Emirates. The absence of Nicolas Roche and Michael Matthews means the pressure will fall on the shoulders of the Dutchman.

    Main man: Wilco Kelderman  – A man who relishes a challenge. His stand-out result this season so far was fifth at Tour de La Provence.

    GROUPAMA-FDJ

    The French side endured a stunning year in 2019, with 24 stage wins. For all the positivity, it was marred by the disappointment of Thibaut Pinot’s exit from the Tour de France due to injury.

    Main man: Arnaud Demare – Recorded only one World Tour win last campaign on stage 10 of Giro d’Italia. However, the flat roads of the UAE should help restore his confidence.

    UAE TEAM EMIRATES

    A fascinating line-up. Fernando Gaviria will be optimistic about improving on his win on stage 2 in Abu Dhabi last season, while Tadej Pogacar will provide GC prospects for the home team.

    Main rider: Fernando Gaviria – Has a strong team around him to fight for the green jersey. Had six stage wins last campaign.

    LOTTO SOUDAL

    The Belgian behemoths have Caleb Ewan to guarantee a stage win or two; the Australian who secured two Giro and three Tour de France stage victories last year.

    Main man: Caleb Ewan – Arguably the best sprinter in the world last year and has started the season well, with two stage wins at the Tour Down Under last month.

    ASTANA PRO TEAM

    The Kazakh squad had one of their best seasons last year and look set to continue that trend this term with Miguel Angel Lopez and Jakob Fuglsang at the helm. In the UAE, they will be looking to Alexey Lutsenko for inspiration.

    Main man: Alexey Lutsenko – Scalped victories in Oman, Arctic Race of Norway, Coppa Sabatini and the Memorial Marco Pantani in 2019.

    AG2R La Mondiale

    French challengers who have come to the fore over the years thanks to the prowess of Romain Bardet. Expect to see their brown shirts in plenty of breaks, especially with Ben Gastauer and Alexandre Geniez in control.

    Main man: Ben Gastauer – Dutchman has been productive in his four races in 2020, his 30th place finish at the Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race among the stand-out results.

    TEAM JUMBO-VISMA

    Last year’s UAE Tour winner Primoz Roglic is having a rest so the initial focus will be on Dylan Groenewegen’s attempts to add to his 15 victories from 2019. A cracking talent.

    Main man: Dylan Groenewegen – Has all the tools to challenge consistently for wins this year. Will be targeting both the Giro d’Italia and the Vuelta a Espana.

    MOVISTAR TEAM

    The Spanish side should be in the thick of the action, especially on stages 3 and 5 to Jebel Hafeet, where the venerable Alejandro Valverde will be the man to beat.

    Main man: Alejandro Valverde – The 39-year-old, who finished second in the UAE last year, will be putting all his focus on the Tokyo Olympics.

    VINI ZABU – KTM

    Formerly Neri Sottoli-Selle Italia, the team will be the only side racing without power meters or heart rate monitors. Recorded eight triumphs last season.

    Main man: Giovanni Visconti – The 37-year-old comes into the UAE Tour on the back of an 11th place finish at the Trofeo Laigueglia earlier this month.

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