Remco Evenepoel faces time trial and two uphill finishes in UAE Tour

Along with the confirmation of Remco Evenepoel's participation, the UAE Tour has also revealed the route for the upcoming edition. The seven-day race seems perfectly tailored to Evenepoel.

The UAE Tour remains largely the ideal race for the sprint teams to prepare themselves, yet GC contenders like the Belgian, as well as Jonas Vingegaard and Isaac Del Toro, will also find plenty to excite their climbing ambitions in the United Arab Emirates. On day two, the action begins. We expect the first time differences in the 12.2-kilometer individual time trial on Al Hudayriyat Island.

The riders will likely use their road bikes again for this, which puts Evenepoel at less of an advantage. The following day, the GC contenders must prove themselves uphill after a long approach to Jebel Al Mebrah. The climb stretches about 14.9 kilometers at an average of 8.6%, with ramps reaching up to 17% near the end.

Jebel Hafeet on the penultimate day is no stranger to Evenepoel. The 11.7-kilometer climb averaging 8% is a true classic in the UAE Tour, where the general classification is often decided each year. Evenepoel was runner-up here in 2023 behind Adam Yates. Altogether, there are enough decisive points to make a difference. All other stages are relatively flat.