British legend Wiggins 'excited' to be part of Dubai Tour 2016

British cycling legend Sir Bradley Wiggins is the most high-profile entry for the third edition of the Dubai Tour 2016.

This was confirmed during a gala ceremony at Jumeirah Mina A'Salam on Sunday where alongisde the the official route and jersey presentation, the list of the 16 teams invited to the February 3 to 6 race were announced.

The list includes 10 UCI WorldTeams (seven of those members of the Velon group), three UCI Professional Continental teams, two UCI Continental teams and the UAE National Selection. Each team at the start of Dubai Tour will consist of six riders.

Gold medallist at the Olympic Games in 2004 and 2008, Wiggins, 35, returned to the track in the 2014 Commonwealth Games and has announced his intention to compete at the Rio Olympics next year which makes his participation in the Dubai Tour more significant.

"I’m really excited to be racing with my team at the 2016 Dubai Tour. It’s a really exciting event and we’re looking forward to competing with some of the best teams in the world," said the 2012 Tour de France winner in a message.

Dubai Tour is only in its third year – the first edition having been won by the American Taylor Phinney, and last year’s race by the Manxman Mark Cavendish – but is already considered a classic in the early cycling calendar due the mild weather and the superb facilities.

Saeed Hareb, Secretary General of the Dubai Sports Council General revealed that the four-day race will take in Dubai's most famous landmarks and attract riders from all five continents, while taking in Fujairah for the first time.

“Dubai Sports Council have recognised the important role of sport in a global city since its creation. We are not interested in one-off events but in regular annual appointments and the Dubai Tour is part of this vision: thanks to the riders we’re going to show our beautiful territory to the world again. Year after year one more secret can be unveiled: in 2015 we climbed the Hatta Dam, in 2016 we will discover Fujairah. But let’s not forget all our traditional and distinctive landmarks,” said Hareb.
 
The other stages include major features of Dubai: Nakheel Stage (stage 2) will finish at the celebrated Palm Jumeirah, in front of the Atlantis Hotel; The Westin Stage (stage 3) will end uphill, beside the turquoise waters of Hatta Dam; Burj Stage (stage 4) is the grand finale at the foot of the colossal Burj Khalifa.

The 2016 Dubai Tour jerseys will be provided by Castelli: as for the previous editions the Italian brand has used a lightweight high-tech fabric supplied by SITIP that is both UV-protective and allows for a very rapid rate of heat dissipation.

Jerseys

Blue Jersey (General Classification) sponsored by Commercial Bank of Dubai will be worn by the overall winner, the one who has proven to be the fastest and most consistent rider over the four stages.

In 2015 the blue jersey was won by Mark Cavendish.

Peter Baltussen, Commercial Bank of Dubai CEO said: “We are looking forward to our second year of collaboration with the Dubai Tour. The event is quickly making its mark as one of the top sporting events in the country, attracting some of the world’s best racers. At CBD, we are committed to sponsoring activities that encourage people to lead healthy and physically active lives, and cycling is the fastest growing sport in the country that has strong appeal to residents, especially youth in the UAE.”

Red Jersey (Points Classification) sponsored by Fly Emirates will be worn by the fastest sprinter, who has obtained the best positions in each stage and intermediate sprint.

The red jersey was also won by Mark Cavendish, winner of two of four stages.

Sheikh Majid Al Mualla, Divisional Senior Vice President Commercial Operations Centre, said: “The Dubai Tour is now firmly established as one of the top cycling challenges and Emirates is proud to have been a part of it from the beginning. Emirates is committed to supporting the development of Dubai as a world-class sporting destination so being a partner of an event like the Dubai Tour is important to us.”

White Jersey (Young Rider) sponsored by RTA (Roads and Transport Authority) is worn by the best young rider, the power and the future.

In 2015 this jersey was gained by the Dane Michael Valgren.

Yousef Al Redha, CEO of RTA’s Corporate Support Services Sector, said: “RTA is one of the Dubai Tour 2016 sponsors.  We sponsor this event as part of our constant support of one of the world’s most significant cycling contests. The increasing importance of this event, locally and internationally, has attracted new sponsors and we are proud to be one of the sponsors of Dubai Tour in its third edition."

UAE Flag Jersey (Intermediate Sprint Classification) sponsored by DHA (Dubai Health Authority) is worn by the rider who gained more Intermediate Sprint Points than any other rider.

Last year’s winner was the Italian Alessandro Bazzana.

Ghanim Abdulla Rashid Lootah, Director Department of Institutional Marketing and Communications at DHA, said: "Dubai is the city of happiness as planned by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, adding that to be happy you need to be fit and healthy and this is one of the objectives of the Dubai Tour."

Ghanim Lootah praised the efforts of Dubai Sports Council and RCS in improving and developing Dubai Tour which is now one of the world top class sport events.

In addition to the Top Sponsors of the four Dubai Tour 2016 jerseys (Commercial Bank of Dubai, Fly Emirates, RTA, DHA), it also includes the Stage Sponsors (Nakheel, The Westin Dubai Mina Seyahi Beach Resort & Marina), the Host Broadcaster (Dubai Sports), the Official Partners (Audi Al Nabooda, Castelli), the Official Supplier (Giant) and the Official Supporters (Wolfi’s Bike Shop, Elliptigo).

Lorenzo Giorgetti, RCS Sports and Events JLT CEO, said: “We are very pleased to confirm almost the same Top Sponsors as last year. It means the Dubai Tour is delivering on expectations for our supporters, being at the same time very attractive for new partners, such as DHA (Dubai Health Authority). These are all companies of fundamental importance for Dubai and represent the Dubai brand all over the world. It is an honour and also a great responsibility, but I'm sure we will all be proud and satisfied of the event outcome at any sponsorship level – from the Stage sponsors to the Official Supporters, the Official partners and the Official Suppliers. Each of them contribute to the success of Dubai Tour”.

Director of the Dubai Tour, Huraiz Al Murr bin Huraiz, outlined the official route of the race which cover a distance of 671 kilometres.



Route information

Stage 1: Fujairah Stage / February 3

Dubai International Marine Club – Fujairah (179km)

The stage joins the beach of Dubai Marina on the Arabian Gulf with the beach of Fujairah on the Indian Ocean (Gulf of Oman). It runs through the entire stretch of desert between Dubai and Fujairah through the territory of four different Emirates (Dubai, Sharjah, Ras al-Khaimah, Fujairah).

It touches the Silicon Oasis area before facing the long straights that, cutting through the dunes, lead to the Hajar Mountains for a short and mild sequence of hills. It then arrives into Fujairah, where there will be a 6.6km circuit to be completed twice.

Stage 2: Nakheel Stage / February 4

Dubai International Marine Club – Palm Jumeirah (Atlantis) (188km)

A stage of two distinct parts. The first part is just outside the metropolis, partially in the desert, the second part within Dubai Marina to end in Palm Jumeirah, in front of the Atlantis “door”.

The first part will pass next to the Camel Track, the Al Qudra bike path, the Hamdan Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Sports Complex pool and through the desert.

The second part returns into the city touching Dubailand, the Jumeirah Golf Club and Dubai Sports City. It then heads to the finale on the Palm through an underwater tunnel before the last kilometres, with the halfway point on the artificial island. From here there will be 3,200m to the final sprint.

Stage 3: The Westin Stage / February 5

Dubai International Marine Club – Hatta Dam (172km)

It’s the hardest stage of Dubai tour, 172km on a course which replicates almost entirely the inaugural edition stage, with the addition of the harder final climb of Hatta Dam, as experienced in 2015.

It is characterised by long stretches in the desert crossing the two neighbouring Emirates of Sharjah and Ras Al Khaimah.

Once it has left the last buildings in Dubai, the stage will touch Labab, Al Madam and Al Malahia on the road to Hatta where, before facing the finale, riders will face two climbs, the second with peaks of 11 per cent and a fast and challenging downhill.

The last three kilometres are a continuous ascent up to face the final climb that leads to the dam: a short stretch of about 200 metres with an inclination from 12 per cent to 17 per cent.

Stage 4: Burj Stage / February 6

Dubai International Marine Club – Burj Khalifa (132km)

The final stage is now a classic, with just a few changes compared to the previous editions, going through the Old and New Town.

It starts in the direction of the great Meydan Racecourse to reach and cross Mushrif Park and then move to the beaches of Al Mamzar.

It then runs through Deira, Al Maktoum Bridge and the entire Old Town, almost to Port Rashid, and from there enters the Jumeirah Road past the large Union Flag.

Then there’s a u-turn at the Burj  Al Arab to go back to Jumeirah Road and reach the Burj Khalifa which is the finishing point.

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