The Abu Dhabi Tour, the new professional cycling race in the United Arab Emirates, has been announced and will run as a partnership between the Abu Dhabi Sports Council and RCS Sport.
 
The UCI has confirmed the 4-day stage race will form part of its Asia Tour Calendar, under category 2.1, and run between the 8th and 11th of October 2015.
 
The inaugural race route will take place in the spectacular scenery of the UAE’s largest emirate, with many of the top world cycling teams, and their leading riders, competing to be crowned the first Abu Dhabi Tour champion.
 
Full route details will be announced in June 2015.
 
H. H. Sheikh Nahyan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Head of the Board of Trustees of the Zayed bin Sultan Charity Foundation, and Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Sports Council, assured that Abu Dhabi – thanks to its huge potential and advanced infrastructure – has become a destination that is highly suited to hosting prominent international and world-class sporting events. Sheikh Nahyan bin Zayed Al Nahyan said that cycling has become very popular in the capital Abu Dhabi, with a large number of people from across the community enjoying the sport.
He assured that this in itself is clear indication of the kind of welcome the Abu Dhabi Cycling Tour will receive, and will be part of making it a highly successful event.

Sheikh Nahyan bin Zayed reiterated that UAE leaders are sparing no effort in helping to strengthen and enhance all sport sectors, as well as supporting the UAE’s athletes in their preparation to compete strongly at local and international levels.

Sheikh Nahyan bin Zayed Al Nahyan concluded: “We warmly welcome all teams and guests who will be coming to the UAE to be part of the Abu Dhabi Tour.”
 
Mr. Aref Hamad Al Awani, General Secretary of Abu Dhabi Sports Council said: “We are proud to host and organize the Abu Dhabi Tour, which will show to the entire world the most prominent landmarks of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi and will bring additional value to the world of cycle racing. This event is in line with the overall goal of the Abu Dhabi Sports Council to develop sport through events that reach the entire community, from the young to families, as cycling does.

"I would like to thank the Government of Abu Dhabi, which will be supporting this event and the growth of cycling by creating the infrastructure to encourage people to practice cycling as a healthy life style choice”.
 
Pietro Scott Jovane, RCS MediaGroup CEO said: “RCS MediaGroup is proud to announce this partnership with Abu Dhabi. For our Group, sport is one of the strategic assets that we continue to foster through both our core media platforms, La Gazzetta dello Sport and Marca, and our sport business and events operations, RCS Sport and Last Lap. Sport is a natural driver for our internationalization and a fundamental vector of social development, which is one of the values perfectly represented by cycling.”
 
Lorenzo Giorgetti, Director of RCS Sports and Events JLT, the UAE wholly owned subsidiary of RCS Sport, said: “We are proud to advise and support the creation of the Abu Dhabi Tour under the guidance of the Abu Dhabi Sports Council and the UAE Cycling Federation. This important goal is in line with RCS Sport's strategy focused on extending its activities towards new international markets. I would like to thank the Abu Dhabi Sports Council for its contribution to growing the value of professional cycling by taking into consideration, since the beginning, all stakeholders’ expectations.”