A lot of racing has been developing in the last decade in the Middle East and the UAE Tour comes as a result of that investment in the sport which has also seen World Tour teams pop up in the last few years. The month of February sees several races in the region as many riders look for calm roads and good weather to start off their season.
The UAE Tour is the most recent World Tour event, having had it's first edition in 2019. It came off the back of the late Abu Dhabi Tour which ran from 2015 to 2018 in the area, and also with the race's iconic Jebel Hafeet which every year makes for the race's queen stage.
UAE Tour final podiums:
2023 - Remco Evenepoel - Luke Plapp - Adam Yates
2022 - Tadej Pogacar - Adam Yates - Pello Bilbao
2021 - Tadej Pogacar - Adam Yates - João Almeida
2020 - Adam Yates - Tadej Pogacar - Alexey Lutsenko
2019 - Primoz Roglic - Alejandro Valverde - David Gaudu