PREVIEW | UAE Tour 2023 - Evenepoel vs UAE, 4 bunch sprints await fast men

Preview. For several years now the UAE Tour has proven to be one of the biggest early-season tests for the peloton, we analyze who the biggest contenders are for the GC and the many sprint stages on the menu.

Stage one from Al Dhafra Castle to Al Mirfa is 151 kilometers long and will be a completely flat day. The win, as all days will, can have an influence on the outcome of the day, but a bunch sprint should be inevitable. Stage two will see the riders race a team time-trial. In 17.2 kilometers at Khalifa Port, teams will face each other in a day where the overall classification will take relative importance.

Stage three will see another battle for the overall classification. This one will be a flat day into Jebel Jais. A long and constant climb, the 21.1 kilometers at 5.4% usually don't create meaningful differences, however it will make a distinction between those who will have the legs to fight for the race win and those who won't. Stage four sees the riders back into purely flat roads for another bunch sprint. In 174 kilometers, the riders will head straight into Dubai for another battle between the fast men.

Stage five will be a similar day. Details will be virtually similar as it features no climbing whatsoever, but this time the starting and finishing locations are at Al Marjan Island and Umm al Quwain.

Stage 6 will be another day for the sprinters, bringing the total to four stages that are suited to the fast men, which is set to bring in many of the fastest sprinters in the world.

On the final day the riders face a climb. After three days of no climbing whatsoever, they will have a fourth day of racing in such roads, but will encounter the second and final mountaintop finish of the race. The queen stage, it will be the ascent to Jebel Hafeet - 10.8 kilometers at 6.6% - that will decide the overall classification.

The l startlist includes a vast spectrum of sprinters such as: Tim Merlier, Mark Cavendish, Phil Bauhaus, Sam Bennett, Arnaud Démare, Elia Viviani, Gerben Thijssen, Olav Kooij, Caleb Ewan, Fernando Gaviria, Sam Welsford and Dylan Groenewegen.

However, the overall classification is to be battled in the mountain stages and the team time-trial.

UAE - Without Tadej Pogacar, but UAE continue to have by far the strongest lineup. For a starters Adam Yates, winner in 2020 and runner-up on the last two seasons, who is making his debut for the team here as a main favourite. He's joined by Tour Down Under winner Jay Vine and Brandon McNulty who has on several occasions shown tremendous climbing prowess last season. With three weapons they have a lot of depth and options to play for in the terrain that will be raced.

Remco Evenepoel - Can Evenepoel thrive here? His form at the Vuelta a San Juan was not quite there, and although he has since been training, it's unknown whether it'll be a meaningful improvement. Taking this into account is necessary as the queen stage favours the pure climbers, but Jebel Jais suits him well. The World Champion's biggest task however will certainly be how to handle the UAE trident, as on paper he comes as the biggest opposition to the home team.

Pello Bilbao - Mr. Consistent. After finishing third at the Tour Down Under and fourth at the Volta a Comunitat Valenciana Pello Bilbao will come as a meaningful favourite for the race. He's finishes third to Pogacar and Yates last year so with no doubt the terrain suits him, and he leads Bahrain - Victorious with high ambitions of improving on that.

Sepp Kuss - Jumbo-Visma have been having a calm start to the season, with neither Roglic, Vingegaard, van Aert and van Baarle having started their season. Other riders hence get chances to lead, here Kuss has a chance to show his worth, he will have Jebel Hafeet which suits him. Jumbo also have Thomas Gloag who has impressed in Valencia and will be an outsider.

The fight is also expected to feature other climbers, although the list isn't as luxurious as in other editions. Following a disappointing Tour of Oman Alexey Lutsenko will be looking to redeem himself in the UAE, roads where he has in the past succeeded. Luke Plapp and Ben Tulett will lead INEOS in a special opportunity to have a big role within a World Tour race, with the Australian having impressed here last season.

Louis Meintjes and Emanuel Buchmann will also be looking to improve their run in comparison with the Tour of Oman, and Jakob Fuglsang starts his season this week as he leads Israel - Premier Tech. Einer Rubio, Geoffrey Bouchard and Michael Storer are within the pure climbers, but will have an opportunity to fight for the overall classification here.

Prediction UAE Tour 2023 overall classification:

*** Jay Vine
** Remco Evenepoel, Adam Yates, Pello Bilbao
* Wout Poels, Luke Plapp, Sepp Kuss, Brandon McNulty

Pick: Jay Vine