The official route of the second edition of the Dubai Tour was presented today. The course will be significantly tougher than last year. Not only will the total race distance increase with 60%, it will also include a 17 percent uphill finish.

The 2015 edition of the four-day stage race will be held from four till seven February, with a total distance of 663 kilometers. The race, organised by the Dubai Sports Council in partnership with Giro d'Italia organiser RCS Sport, has been upgraded to 2.HC status and so 11 WorldTour squads and four other teams will make up the 128-rider start list.

2014 Tour de France winner, Vincenzo Nibali, was at the official press conference. He revealed that he will make his 2015 debut in Dubai.

“I've been on well-deserved holiday with my family in Dubai after a long hard season. I haven't ridden my bike here this time but I'm going to start my 2015 season with Astana here,” Nibali confirmed.

“I rode here last year and I think the changes in the route and the uphill finish at 17 per cent will change the dynamic of the race and suits the climbers more than the sprinters. It'll be a good place to test my legs. It'll help me find my form for the rest of the year. I'll probably ride the Tour of Oman and then Tirreno-Adriatico in Italy.”

Nibali hinted that he is likely to focus on the Tour de France in 2015, with teammate Fabio Aru targeting the Giro d'Italia.

“For now the only races confirmed on my race calendar are the Dubai Tour and the Tour de France. Nothing has been decided about the Giro d'Italia,” he said.