Thursday 30 July 2020 10:29, UK
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…
Stage one: Thursday, October 20 - Madinat Zayed to Madinat Zayed - 147km
Stage winner: Giacomo Nizzolo (Trek-Segafredo). Race leader: Giacomo Nizzolo (Trek-Segafredo).
Stage two: Friday, October 21 - Abu Dhabi to Abu Dhabi - 115km
Stage winner: Mark Cavendish (Dimension Data). Race leader: Mark Cavendish (Dimension Data).
Stage three: Saturday, October 22 - Al Ain to Jebel Hafeet - 150km
Stage winner: Tanel Kangert (Astana). Race leader: Tanel Kangert (Astana).
Stage four: Sunday, October 23 - Yas Marina Circuit stage - 143km
Stage winner: Mark Cavendish (Dimension Data). Race leader: Tanel Kangert (Astana).
- Mark Cavendish (Dimension Data).
- Jon Dibben (WIGGINS).
- Owain Doull (Team Sky).
- Andrew Fenn (Team Sky).
- Kristian House (ONE Pro Cycling).
- James Knox (WIGGINS).
- Chris Latham (WIGGINS).
- Dan Pearson (WIGGINS).
- Andy Tennant (WIGGINS).
- Sam Williams (ONE Pro Cycling).
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."
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."
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."
Red: General classification.
Green: Points classification.
White: Youth classification.
Black: Intermediate sprints classification.
2015: Esteban Chaves (Col).
