UAE Tour 2024 Route stage 1: Madinat Zayed - Liwa

Monday 19 February - The 1st stage of the UAE Tour is played out on a 143 kilometres route through the desert. The first 50 kilometres are flat, the rest of the route features numerous short ramps before the last 500 metres run uphill at 5.6%.

The race riders clip into their pedals outside the Al Dhafra Walk shopping mall in Madinat Zayed and penetrate the desert on flat roads for about 50 kilometres. Upon reaching Liwa, the route changes as a series of ups and downs lead the pack on lumpy terrain to Moreeb Dune. At over 300 metres, this is considered the largest sand hill in the UAE and one of the largest in the world.

The riders don't climb all the way to the top, but take on two laps on a 18.1 kilometres long circuit in the sandy surroundings. The uphills are short and sharp, sometimes exceeding 10% gradients.

Moreeb Dune is situated 25 kilometres south of the finish line. The finishing straight runs uphill at over 5%.

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

Ride the route yourself? Download GPX stage 1.

Another interesting read: results 1st stage 2024 UAE Tour.