The UAE Tour

Five things you need to know about...

- Adam Becket

1 Tadej Pogačar's return

After skipping the UAE Tour for the previous two seasons, the best rider in the world returns to the Emirates for his team's home race - which he has won overall on two of his three previous visits. It will be the first time we see the world champion in action in 2025.

2 Sprinters battle it out

With the likelihood of I four sprint stages in the UAE, unless crosswinds cause chaos, the race has become a battle of the best sprinters in the world, as they try to stake their authority on the new season. Sam Welsford is currently top of the sprinting tree, with three wins at the Tour Down Under, but he did not win in the UAE last season, with Tim Merlier and Olav Kooij cashing in. Who will start brightly this year?

3 Chris Froome very likely to likely to begin his final season

Despite not ruling out the possibility of racing on into 2026, 2025 will likely be Chris Froome's last season as a professional cyclist, with the 39-year-old in the final year of his contract with Israel-Premier Tech. He begins his farewell season in the UAE, where he will ride in a support role. Smaller stage races are likely to make up the bulk of his race days this year.

4 Van Eetvelt defends his title

There was a very unlikely winner last year in Lotto's Lennert Van Eetvelt.