UAE Tour 2020 Route stage 2: Hatta

UAE Tour 2020 Route stage 2: Hatta - Hatta Dam

Monday 24 February - At 168 kilometres, the most lumpy race of the UAE Tour takes place on the second day. Stage 2 goes back and forth from Hatta to Fujairah to finish atop the short and sharp Hatta Dam with its max gradients at 17% just before the line.

Arguably, this is the most tricky test on this year’s UAE Tour. Sure, the race serves two finishes atop Jebel Hafeet, but stage 2 is lumpy from start to finish, while the Jebel Hafeet legs are both flat until the final haul up.

Sand dunes and small hills are characteristic of the Hatta-Hatta Dam test. It’s not too demanding though – mostly false flat up and down, and occasionally a steeper ramp.

The last 45 kilometres are a carbon copy of last year’s 4th stage. The route climbs false flat for 7 kilometres before a long and gradual downhill commences. Another ascent appears 18 kilometres before the finish. Although the average gradient is shallow, the climb features some sections at over 10%. The riders reach the highest point 11 kilometres out.

Once down a false flat of 6 kilometres runs to the foot of the Hatta Dam. From base to summit the climb is merely 1 kilometre, but it’s a killer that gets steeper with every pedal stroke. The last 100 metres go up at 14% before continuing onto a 17% ramp just before the line.

Last year, Caleb Ewan was well-placed and he started the sharp haul up from the front. Then he tackled the 17% ramps as if it was a sprint and he won the race bike lengths ahead of young Italian Matteo Moschetti. Primoz Roglic finished in third.

The first three riders on the line gain time bonuses of 10, 6 and 4 seconds, while two intermediate sprints – at kilometre 47.8 and kilometre 119.3 – come with 3, 2 and 1 seconds.

The 2nd stage of UAE Tour starts at 12.20 and the race is expected to finish around 16.30 – both local times.