Abu Dhabi Tour 2018: Favourites
In the Abu Dhabi Tour it boils down to the last two races. Following three chances for the fast men, the 4th stage is an individual time trial, while the final stage ends at the summit of a 10.8 kilometres climb. Who are the favourites to win the 2018 Abu Dhabi Tour? (Slideshow route/profile)
In the first three editions of the Abu Dhabi Tot it all came down to the final haul up the Jebel Hafeet, which is a 10.8 kilometres climb at 6.6%. Last year, Rui Costa won the decisive stage by besting Ilnur Zakarin in a two-up sprint, while Tom Dumoulin came in 10 seconds down on them. Bauke Mollema finished in fourth at half a minute. Usually, these are the gaps after climbing Jebel Hafeet.
The 2018 Abu Dhabi Tour is the first edition with an individual time trial. The 12 kilometres course is flat and in theory this offers specialists an opportunity to put 20 to 30 seconds into the lesser time trialists. The likes of Dumoulin, Kelderman and Zakarin must be pleased.
The extension changes the dynamics of the race. The time trial comes after three flat stages and before the mountain stage to Jebel Hafeet. So riders who lost time in the chrono-race are forced to attack at the final climb, while riders who did well at the time trial just have to react.
Possibly the race boils down to time bonuses. The first three riders at Jebeel Hafeet gain 10, 6 and 4 seconds.
Favourites 2018 Abu Dhabi Tour
*** Tom Dumoulin, Wilco Kelderman, Ilnur Zakarin
** Ion Izagirre, Alejandro Valverde, Miguel Ángel López, Rohan Dennis
* Fabio Aru, Rui Costa, Rafal Majka, Julian Alaphilippe, Simon Yates, Michael Woods
Abu Dhabi Tour 2018: Route maps, height profiles, and more
Click on the images to zoom
Abu Dhabi Tour Route
Abu Dhabi Tour Riders
Watch the highlights of recent races here:
Related articles Winners and records - Abu Dhabi Tour Valverde takes mountain stage and GC victory - Abu Dhabi Tour 20 Rohan Dennis wins time trial and takes overall lead - Abu Dhabi Tour 20 Bauhaus bests Kittel in millimetres sprint, Viviani still in lead - Abu Dhabi Tour 20 Viviani sprints to victory and overall lead - Abu Dhabi Tour 20 Kristoff wins 1st stage and takes lead - Abu Dhabi Tour 20 Route stage 1: Madinat Zayed – Madinat Zayed - Abu Dhabi Tour 20 Route stage 2: Yas Island – Yas Island - Abu Dhabi Tour 20 Route stage 3: Abu Dhabi - Abu Dhabi - Abu Dhabi Tour 20 Route stage 4: ITT Al Maryah - Abu Dhabi Tour 20 Route stage 5: Al Ain - Jebel Hafeet - Abu Dhabi Tour 20 More articles Critérium du Dauphiné 2023: The Route
Critérium du Dauphiné 2023: Riders
Critérium du Dauphiné 2023: GC Favourites
Critérium du Dauphiné 2023 Route stage 1: Chambon-sur-Lac - Chambon-sur-Lac
Critérium du Dauphiné 2023 Route stage 2: Brassac-les-Mines - La Chaise-Dieu
Critérium du Dauphiné 2023 Route stage 3: Monistrol-sur-Loire - La Coteau
Critérium du Dauphiné 2023 Route stage 4: Cours - Belmont-de-la-Loire
Critérium du Dauphiné 2023 Route stage 5: Cormoranche-sur-Saône – Salins-les-Bains
Critérium du Dauphiné 2023 Route stage 6: Nantua - Crest-Voland
Critérium du Dauphiné 2023 Route stage 7: Porte-de-Savoie - Col de la Croix de Fer
Critérium du Dauphiné 2023 Route stage 8: Le Pont-de-Claix - La Bastille, Grenoble
Tour de France 2023: The Route
Tour de France 2023: Riders
Tour de France 2023: GC Favourites
Tour de France 2023 Route stage 1: Bilbao - Bilbao
Tour de France 2023 Route stage 2: Vitoria-Gasteiz - San Sebastián
Tour de France 2023 Route stage 3: Amorebieta-Etxano - Bayonne
Tour de France 2023 Route stage 4: Dax - Nogaro
Tour de France 2023 Route stage 5: Pau - Laruns
Tour de France 2023 Route stage 6: Tarbes - Cauterets
Tour de France 2023 Route stage 7: Mont-de-Marsan - Bordeaux
Tour de Suisse 2023: The Route
Tour de France 2023 Route stage 8: Libourne - Limoges
Tour de France 2023 Route stage 9: Saint-Léonard-de-Noblat - Puy de Dôme
Tour de Suisse 2023: Riders
Tour de Suisse 2023 Route stage 1: Einsiedeln - Einsiedeln
Tour de Suisse 2023 Route stage 2: Beromünster - Nottwil
Tour de Suisse 2023 Route stage 3: Tafers - Villars-sur-Ollon
Tour de Suisse 2023 Route stage 4: Monthey - Leukerbad
Cycling Calendar 2023
Like our Facebook page and stay on top of all pro-race information!
Instagram @abudhabitouroff…
Abu Dhabi Tour Tweets