PREVIEW UAE Tour

Sunday 21 February to Saturday 27 February

- James Shrubsall

Last year’s winner Adam Yates will line up for the UAE Tour at Al Dhafra Castle in his new Ineos Grenadiers colours on Sunday, as the WorldTour season finally gets underway. Winner or not, Yates will be hoping this year’s race will be significantly different to last, which saw the last two stages cancelled and riders confined to their hotels for up to two weeks post-race after two team staff tested positive for Covid-19.

It was the first major disruption to pro cycling due to the virus, but this year’s event, with established safety protocols in place, should pass off far more smoothly.

Yates, who will be joined by Luke Rowe and Tour de la Provence winner Ivan Sosa for Ineos, will have to contend with his chief sparring partner from last year, Tadej Pogačar (UAE-Team Emirates). It will also mark Chris Froome’s first outing for Israel Start-Up Nation.