Abu Dhabi Tour: Mark Cavendish and Alberto Contador lead star field

By Matt Westby

Image: The Abu Dhabi Tour is being held for only the second time

Mark Cavendish, Alberto Contador and Vincenzo Nibali are among the star names in action at the season-ending Abu Dhabi Tour from Thursday, October 20, to Sunday, October 23.

The race is being held for only the second time and will be made up of three sprint stages and one mountain-top finish.

As well as Cavendish, other leading sprinters such as Elia Viviani, Andre Greipel, John Degenkolb and Michael Matthews are all present and will be in the hunt for stage wins.

Here is everything you need to know…

THE STAGES

Stage one: Thursday, October 20 - Madinat Zayed to Madinat Zayed - 147km

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Stage winner: Giacomo Nizzolo (Trek-Segafredo). Race leader: Giacomo Nizzolo (Trek-Segafredo).

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Image: Giacomo Nizzolo sprinted to victory on the opening stage

Stage two: Friday, October 21 - Abu Dhabi to Abu Dhabi - 115km

Stage winner: Mark Cavendish (Dimension Data). Race leader: Mark Cavendish (Dimension Data).

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Image: Mark Cavendish took the lead by winning stage two

Stage three: Saturday, October 22 - Al Ain to Jebel Hafeet - 150km

Stage winner: Tanel Kangert (Astana). Race leader: Tanel Kangert (Astana).

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Image: Tanel Kangert climbed to victory on stage three

Stage four: Sunday, October 23 - Yas Marina Circuit stage - 143km

Stage winner: Mark Cavendish (Dimension Data). Race leader: Tanel Kangert (Astana).

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Image: Cavendish sprinted to victory at the Yas Marina Circuit

BRIT WATCH

- Mark Cavendish (Dimension Data).
- Jon Dibben (WIGGINS).
- Owain Doull (Team Sky).
- Andrew Fenn (Team Sky).
- Kristian House (ONE Pro Cycling).

Image: Owain Doull is racing for Team Sky (Picture: Matt Alexander)

- James Knox (WIGGINS).
- Chris Latham (WIGGINS).
- Dan Pearson (WIGGINS).
- Andy Tennant (WIGGINS).
- Sam Williams (ONE Pro Cycling).

WHAT THE RIDERS SAY…

Alberto Contador
"For me, it's a bit of a surprise because it was not in my programme in the beginning, but I am here and I am happy. Maybe I'm not in the best condition, but we have a good team and we are motivated for the flat stages and the mountain stages."

Image: Alberto Contador is appearing in his last race for Tinkoff

Vincenzo Nibali
"I don't have a plan. After the Olympic Games I have been training day by day searching for the best condition. I have only raced twice. Abu Dhabi is the last race in team Astana and only one stage in the mountains is not good for me."

Mark Cavendish
"I was here last year but I didn't get to race, and to be back racing this year is pretty special. I'm really looking forward to the race. There are three sprint stages. The summit finish isn't for me, but we saw the drama last year and I think it's going to be the same this year."

Image: Olympic champion Greg Van Avermaet is in action this week

Greg Van Avermaet
"I will try to do something this week. The parcours [course] is not the perfect parcours for me, but I will try to do some attacks maybe and make it hard for other teams to win."

Michael Matthews
"We will focus on stages first. We have got two sprint stages, then the mountain stage. It would be good to share the sprint opportunities in the team."

THE JERSEYS

Red: General classification.
Green: Points classification.
White: Youth classification.
Black: Intermediate sprints classification.

PREVIOUS WINNER

2015: Esteban Chaves (Col).

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