It’s only a few hundred metres between start and finish, yet the riders cover 189 kilometres in stage 1. A large loop through the desert is responsible.
The route is similar to the 1st stage of the 2017 edition, when Mark Cavendish outsprinted André Greipel and Nicolo Bonifazio.
The route can be divided into three sections. In a straight line the riders race to Liwa Oase, a section of 59 kilometres. A loop around the oasis amounts to 70 kilometres before the race returns to Madinat Zayed. The parcours features some hills, but the sprinters do not need to worry. Strong winds could me more decisive on how the race unfolds. The course is open, especially on the straight sections.
The first three riders on the line take time bonuses of 10, 6 and 4 seconds, while the two intermediate sprints (at kilometre 55.0 and at kilometre 129.7) come with 3, 2 and 1 seconds.
Read also: results/ace report 1st stage 2018 Abu Dhabi Tour.
Abu Dhabi Tour 2018 stage 1: Route maps, height profiles, and more
Click on the images to zoom
Related articles Favourites - Abu Dhabi Tour 20 Overview - Abu Dhabi Tour 20 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 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