UAE Tour 2024 Route stage 7: Al Ain - Jebel Hafeet

Sunday 25 February - The final stage of the UAE Tour is a 161 kilometres long race from Al Ain to Jebel Hafeet. The run-up to the finish climb - 10.8 kilometres at 6.6% - is completely flat.

Jebel means mountain in Arabic, and Jebel Hafeet means 'empty mountain'. Which makes a lot of sense. The riders are climbing barren, arid slopes in the finale, as if racing on the moon, although the road up the western flank is in very good condition.

In the first part of the final stage, the route winds its way through Al Ain, brushing past Al Ain University, Al Qattara, Al Hili and Al Ain Airport. Following an out-and-back session in the desert to the west of the city the riders return to the Green Mubazzarah park and take the Jebel Ḥafeeṫ Mountain Road, which is a three-lane roadway that goes up for 10.8 kilometres. The road remains wide all the way to the line, while the average gradient sits at 6.6%.

The gradients are hovering between 8% to 9% from kilometre 4 to kilometre 8 and kick up to 11% with 2.8 kilometres remaining. Jebel Hafeet then levels out considerably and even goes downhill for a bit. Positioning could be important in the finale, as there is a left-hand turn just before the finish line.

With three consecutive wins in the years 2020-2022, Tadej Pogacar is the King of Jebel Hafeet.

Last year's Al Ain-Jebel Hafeet stage was won by Adam Yates, while Remco Evenepoel finished 10 seconds later to seal the overall victory. The Briton also emerged victorious in 2020, as did Pogacar, since the mountain was included twice that year.

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 7.

Another interesting read: results 7th stage 2024 UAE Tour.