The 2020 UAE Tour begins in Dubai on Sunday with a 148km jaunt from The Pointe to Dubai Silicon Oasis before finishing in Abu Dhabi on March 29.
Here we look at five riders set to shine.
CHRIS FROOME (TEAM INEOS)
The Briton makes his long-awaited return to racing since a career-threatening crash, the first stage on his path to a potential fifth Tour de France.
The various high-cadence climbs on offer around the Emirates will suit his attributes, and coupled with the soaring climbs at Jebel Hafeet, should steer the 34-year-old in the right direction.
The competition in the UAE will continue to build his racing sharpness and belief, but the reality is he is against the clock to improve his body strength in order to tackle the 29 categorised ascents, six mountain-top finishes and a mountain time-trial at this year’s Tour.
TADEJ POGACAR (UAE TEAM EMIRATES)
Alexander Kristoff, Fabio Aru and Fernando Gaviria may be three of the key names on the UAE Team Emirates roster, however, Slovenian climber Tadej Pogacar has shone brightest this season.
The 21-year-old has started the year in emphatic fashion, with victory at the Tour of Valencia, having won stages two and four of the race earlier in the week.
It is another major success for the Komenda man after he placed third at the Vuelta a Espana in 2019, adding to his five stage wins that year.
CALEB EWAN (LOTTO SOUDAL)
If the season so far is anything to go by, then Ewan might be the quickest sprinter on tour.
The Sydney man recorded two stage wins at the Tour Down Under last month, demonstrating an enormous turn of pace late on.
It’s hard to believe the Australian is only 25, yet continues to star more as each year passes.
In 2019, he brought his race craft to another level, winning ten races, including five grand tour stages, three of which were at the Tour de France.
His form in the UAE is strong, having won stages at the 2017 Abu Dhabi Tour and last year’s UAE Tour.
DYLAN GROENEWEGEN (TEAM JUMBO-VISMA)
The Dutchman has all the tools in his armoury to challenge for multiple wins again this season.
After two stage triumphs at the Tour of Valencia earlier this month, Groenewegen arrives in the UAE in fine fettle, with arguably the most complete Team Jumbo-Visma lead-out train.
The Giro d’Italia and the Vuelta a Espana will be his chief targets in 2020, however flat sprints on stages one, six and seven in the UAE are achievable.
Confidence is sky-high after clinching 15 victories last campaign. A serious talent.
SAM BENNETT (DECEUNINCK-QUICK STEP)
One of the best sprinters in the game, the Irishman joined Deceuninck-QuickStep in December after six seasons at NetApp–Endura, formerly Bora–Hansgrohe.
It didn’t take long for the 29-year-old to open his account for his new side either, with stage wins at the Tour Down Under and Race Torquay.
The difference with Bennett is that he can pass hard climbs, meaning there is more opportunity to control the race. On sprints, he can win on the flat and can also succeed with slightly uphill.
After sealing victory on stage 7 of the UAE Tour last season, the Carrick-on-Suir man will be hoping for further success when he comes up against the likes of Ewan and Groenewegen.
