The 2020 UAE Tour was a
road cycling stage race
A race stage, leg, or heat is a unit of a race that has been divided in several parts for the reason such as length of the distance to be covered, as in a multi-day event. Usually, such a race consists of "ordinary" stages, but sometimes stages ...
that took place between 23 and 27 February 2020 in the
United Arab Emirates
The United Arab Emirates (UAE; ar, اَلْإِمَارَات الْعَرَبِيَة الْمُتَحِدَة ), or simply the Emirates ( ar, الِْإمَارَات ), is a country in Western Asia ( The Middle East). It is located at ...
(initially scheduled to take place between the 23 and 29 February). It was the second edition of the
UAE Tour and the third race of the
2020 UCI World Tour.
The race was held during the
COVID-19 pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic, also known as the coronavirus pandemic, is an ongoing global pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The novel virus was first identified ...
, and following the fifth stage, two staff members of one of the teams tested positive for COVID-19.
In response, the local authorities
quarantine
A quarantine is a restriction on the movement of people, animals and goods which is intended to prevent the spread of disease or pests. It is often used in connection to disease and illness, preventing the movement of those who may have been ...
d and tested all participants, including riders, organisers and team members, and cancelled the remaining two stages.
As of March 3, 2020, most teams had left the country and returned to their normal early season schedules, but some teams were still being held within the UAE with very little explanation or assurances. They were eventually told they would be allowed to leave their hotel on March 14.
The race was consequently won by British rider
Adam Yates
Adam Richard Yates (born 7 August 1992) is a British road and track racing cyclist who currently rides for . He placed fourth overall at the 2016 Tour de France and became the first British rider to win the young rider classification, one year ...
of , who was leading the race prior to the cancellation. Yates took the race leader's jersey following the third stage, one of the two mountain-top finishes on
Jebel Hafeet
Jabal Hafeet ( ar, جَبَل حَفِيْت, Jabal Ḥafīt, "Mount Hafeet"; variously transcribed Jabal, Jabel or Jebal and Hafit or Hafeet – literally "empty mountain") is a mountain in the region of Tawam, on the border of the United Arab ...
, taking a clear stage victory with over a minute's advantage over
Tadej Pogačar () and maintained his lead during the second mountainous stage, won by Pogačar, who was ultimately classified second in the general classification and took the white jersey for the young riders' classification.
Alexey Lutsenko of completed the podium, over a minute and a half behind Yates, thanks to strong finishes on the two mountainous stages.
Among the race's other jerseys, in addition to Pogačar taking the young rider's classification,
Caleb Ewan of collected the most points in the points classification thanks to a win on the second stage and consistently high finishes on the other flat stages. The sprints classification was won by
Veljko Stojnić of , whilst thanks to the high placings of Pogačar,
Diego Ulissi
Diego Ulissi (born 15 July 1989) is an Italian road bicycle racer, who currently rides for UCI WorldTeam .
Career
Ulissi is a versatile, all-round cyclist who often wins stages and one-day races from breakaways and over hilly terrain.
Born in ...
and
Davide Formolo, took the teams classification, finishing over three minutes ahead of the second best team, .
Teams
Twenty teams were invited to the event, including eighteen of the nineteen
UCI WorldTeam
A UCI WorldTeam (2015–present), previously UCI ProTeam (2005–2014), is the term used by the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) to name a cycling team of the highest category in professional road cycling, the UCI World Tour or UCI ProTour
...
s and two
UCI Professional Continental
The UCI Continental Circuits are a series of road bicycle racing competitions which were introduced in 2005 by the Union Cycliste Internationale
The ''Union Cycliste Internationale'' (UCI; ; en, International Cycling Union) is the world gove ...
teams. Each team consisted of seven riders for a total of 140 riders, of which 133 finished.
UCI WorldTeams
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UCI Professional Continental teams
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Route
Stages
Stage 1
;23 February 2020 –
The Pointe at Palm Jumeirah to
Dubai Silicon Oasis
Dubai Silicon Oasis known as DSO ( ar, واحة دبي للسيليكون) is a free-trade zone established by the Dubai government in 2003, spanning an area of 7.2 square kilometers.
History
In 2003, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vic ...
,
Stage 2
;24 February 2020 –
Hatta to
Hatta Dam,
Stage 3
;25 February 2020 –
Al Qudrah Cycle Track to
Jebel Hafeet
Jabal Hafeet ( ar, جَبَل حَفِيْت, Jabal Ḥafīt, "Mount Hafeet"; variously transcribed Jabal, Jabel or Jebal and Hafit or Hafeet – literally "empty mountain") is a mountain in the region of Tawam, on the border of the United Arab ...
,
Stage 4
;26 February 2020 –
Zabeel Park to
Dubai City Walk,
Stage 5
;27 February 2020 –
Al Ain to
Jebel Hafeet
Jabal Hafeet ( ar, جَبَل حَفِيْت, Jabal Ḥafīt, "Mount Hafeet"; variously transcribed Jabal, Jabel or Jebal and Hafit or Hafeet – literally "empty mountain") is a mountain in the region of Tawam, on the border of the United Arab ...
,
Stage 6
;28 February 2020 –
Al Ruwais to
Al Mirfa,
The stage was cancelled by local authorities when two staff members tested positive for
COVID-19
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a contagious disease caused by a virus, the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The first known case was identified in Wuhan, China, in December 2019. The disease quickl ...
.
Stage 7
;29 February 2020 –
Al Maryah Island to
Abu Dhabi,
The stage was cancelled by local authorities when two staff members tested positive for
COVID-19
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a contagious disease caused by a virus, the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The first known case was identified in Wuhan, China, in December 2019. The disease quickl ...
.
Classification leadership table
Classification standings
General classification
Points classification
Sprints classification
Young rider classification
Teams classification
Notes
References
External links
Official website
{{DEFAULTSORT:UAE Tour, 2020
2020
2020 was heavily defined by the COVID-19 pandemic, which led to global social and economic disruption, mass cancellations and postponements of events, worldwide lockdowns and the largest economic recession since the Great Depression in ...
2020 UCI World Tour
2020 in Emirati sport
February 2020 sports events in Asia
Sports events curtailed due to the COVID-19 pandemic