Cycling: Stars ready to sparkle at Abu Dhabi Tour

Abu Dhabi - WorldTour status has ensured participation of top names

World's top sprinters and climbers will jostle for supremacy as the four-day Abu Dhabi Tour extravaganza starts from Thursday.
The Tour rolls from the Western region with the Emirates Motor Company Stage. Cyclists begin from Baynounah Educational Complex and finish at Madinat Zayed.
Adding an air of superiority to the contest is home side - UAE Team Emirates. Team leader Rui Costa said they understand the importance of the race and what it means to everybody.
"These are very important days for us. I think the first stage is suitable for my race. My legs are pretty good but quality of opponents is very high. So, there will be good fight over next few days," he said during a pre-race press conference at the Yas Marina Circuit on Wednesday.
The team, according to the Portuguese, has a good combination of riders.
"We have in us few jersey contenders with strong sprinters and climbers. A podium finish could be the minimum achievement but it will not be simple," said the rider who finished second overall at the Tour of Oman.
Also, the WorldTour status has ensured participation of top names. And Spanish all-rounder Alberto Contador couldn't agree anymore.
"This is now WorldTour and thus very important for all teams," the Trek - Segafredo rider said as a reason for many champions taking part in the Tour. He is ready for the race and targeting Stage 3.
Abu Dhabi Tour ambassador Mark Cavendish is delighted the way things have shaped out.
"It's incredible seeing how the race has grown in a few years. I am very proud. I like to win here," the Team Dimension Data rider said.
Marcel Kittel is happy with a great start to the season. The German sprinter won the fifth stage to retain the Dubai Tour title.
He acknowledged that things are different when it comes to Abu Dhabi. "These are different circumstances and more challenging," the Quick - Step Floors rider said.
Andre Greipel has 21 stage victories at Grand Tours. He is fresh from his Volta ao Algarve Stage 4 sprint in Portugal. And he has a podium finish in his sight.
"Conditions here are good and I won't say no to winning stage here," the Lotto-Soudal rider said.
There are three sprinter stages but the German just said: "It's never easy to sprint."
Team Lotto NL - Jumbo's Steven Kruijswijk, BMC Racing Team's Tejay van Garderen and Romain Bardet of AG2R La Mondiale said the race is going to be a good preparation at the start of the season.
Elia Viviani of Team Sky felt with the present conditions, Abu Dhabi Tour is among the best in the world.
"The stage on the Yas Marina circuit, in particular, is one of the greatest spectacles we have in professional cycling."
Caleb Ewan of Orica - Scott felt the field as the best sprinting ones.
Vincenzo Nibali of Bahrain - Merida said all the four stages are going to be lot challenging.
"We have Niccolo Bonifazio for the sprint stages and I'm looking forward to the mountain-top finish," he said.
The race is organised by Abu Dhabi Sports Council in collaboration with RCS Sport and under the patronage of Sheikh Hazza bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Vice Chairman of Abu Dhabi Executive Council.
ashwani@khaleejtimes.com
 
Stage 1
Emirates Motor Company Stage (189km)
Start: Baynounah Educational Complex
Finish: Madinat Zayed