Elia Viviani returns to action in a country where he has tasted success on numerous occasions since 2015.
The inaugural edition of the UAE Tour takes place between February 24 and March 2, and Deceuninck – Quick-Step will be one of the twenty squads to line up at the start on the Al Hudayriat Island for a flat but technical 16km-long team time trial, at the end of which the first red jersey, of the GC leader, will be awarded.
Following this first ever TTT held in the Emirates, the next six days of the World Tour event will be split between the sprinters – who’ll get three opportunities to fight for victories and the points jersey – puncheurs (on the gruelling 17% gradients of Hatta Dam) and the climbers, with the latter expected to emerge on Jebel Hafeet and Jebel Jais, two long and challenging ascents that will play a crucial role in the final overall standings.
A rider who in the past four years has won eight times in the United Arab Emirates, Elia Viviani will set his sights on the flat stages, where he’ll be supported by a strong lead-out train comprising also Michael Mørkøv and Fabio Sabatini, the two men who have helped him rack up two wins already this season, at the Tour Down Under and Cadel Evans Road Race.
Alongside them will be Dries Devenyns, Remco Evenepoel – best young rider of the Vuelta a San Juan, where he finished inside the top 10 overall after an impressive ride – neo-pro Mikkel Honoré and James Knox, who are making their first outing since taking part in the Down Under campaign.
“We come here with Elia as leader, he will have a solid and experienced lead-out train to rely on and we are confident that he can win a stage and be in contention for the points jersey. We are also curious how Dries, James and Remco will fare on the uphill finishes and what they can do in the general classification. It’s a strong field here at the UAE Tour and it’s important to see what our level is, but after the excellent start of the season we’ve had, we are optimistic”, explained sports director Geert Van Bondt.
Photo credit: ©Sigfrid Eggers
