The UAE Tour 2025, the second stage race of the UCI World Tour, will take place from 17 to 23 February. The seventh edition of the tour through the United Arab Emirates features two well-known climbs, but there are also plenty of opportunities for the sprinters and an individual time trial.
Jebel Jais and Jebel Hafeet - many cycling fans will be familiar with these two mountains by now. They will once again be part of the UAE Tour in 2025 and are likely to decide the outcome of the race on stages three and seven. There is also an individual time trial that awaits the riders on the second day and possible wind edges on the ride through the desert.
UAE Tour 2025 - the route at a glance
Photo: RCS SportThe route of the UAE Tour 2025 at a glance
1013.2 kilometres have to be covered in the UAE Tour 2025. This makes the desert tour just as long as in previous years. A total of around 3,500 metres in altitude await, most of which will be covered in the two mountain finishes at Jebel Jais and Jebel Hafeet.
Stage 1 | Monday, 17 February 2025 | Madinat Zayed Shams Solar Park - Liwa Palace | 138 kilometres
Photo: RCS SportThe profile of stage 1 of the UAE Tour 2025
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It's off into the desert right at the start. The first 45 kilometres or so in a southerly direction could provide the first windy stretches. The favourites should be wide awake here. After reaching Liwa, the peloton enters an area with very pronounced dunes, which characterise large parts of the stage. It's up and down to the Moreeb dune, where the riders complete two laps of the Moreeb dune cycle path (18.1 kilometres per lap) with short climbs and descents with double-digit gradients. The riders then return to Liwa, where the race ends. The finishing straight climbs at five per cent. This could make the legs of one or two sprinters too sore.
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Photo: RCS SportThe 1st stage of the UAE Tour 2025 on the map
Stage 2 | Tuesday, 18 February 2025 | Al Hudayriyat Island | 12.2 kilometres (individual time trial)
Photo: RCS SportThe profile of stage 2 of the UAE Tour 2025
As in the previous year, stage 2 is an individual time trial held on the island of Al Hudayriyat. The course is something for rouleurs and only has a few right-angled bends and two U-turns. The gaps between the favourites should be in the seconds range.
Photo: RCS SportThe 2nd stage of the UAE Tour 2025 on the map
Stage 3 | Wednesday, 19 February 2025 | Ras al Khaimah - Jebel Jais | 179 kilometres
Photo: RCS SportThe profile of stage 3 of the UAE Tour 2025
The first of two mountain top finishes of the UAE Tour awaits on the third day. The peloton takes on around 140 kilometres of almost flat roads to climb the ascent towards Jebel Jais. Many riders are familiar with the finish from previous events. Jebel Jais is a classic roller climb - around 20 kilometres with an average gradient of around 5 per cent. Serious attacks can only be expected on the last two kilometres, which are somewhat steeper at 7 per cent.
Photo: RCS SportThe 3rd stage of the UAE Tour 2025 on the map
Stage 4 | Thursday, 20 February 2025 | Fujairah Qidfa Beach - Umm al Quwain | 181 kilometres
Photo: RCS SportThe profile of the 4th stage of the UAE Tour 2025
After the climbers can let off steam on the third day, the 4th stage should be something for the sprinters again. The day begins for the riders in Fujairah Qidfa Beach and leads to Umm Al Quwain through desert areas on the edge of the Hajar Mountains. Wind edges and sand on the road, which can cause defects, could have an impact on the race.
Photo: RCS SportThe 4th stage of the UAE Tour 2025 on the map
Stage 5 | Friday, 21 February 2025 | American University Dubai - Hamdan Bin Mohammed Smart University | 160 kilometres
Photo: RCS SportThe profile of stage 5 of the UAE Tour 2025
A stage that leads through Dubai and is once again something for the sprinters. The race initially leaves the city in the direction of the desert. It passes the classic sights such as the Meydan Racecourse. After the detour into the desert, the route leads the peloton past the Dubai Safari Park towards the finish. Although there are a few roundabouts in the finale, these should be easy for the peloton to negotiate.
Photo: RCS SportThe 5th stage of the UAE Tour 2025 on the map
Stage 6 | Saturday, 22 February 2025 | Abu Dhabi Cycling Club - Abu Dhabi Breakwater | 167 kilometres
Photo: RCS SportThe profile of stage 6 of the UAE Tour 2025
On the seventh day of the UAE Tour 2025, the riders will be travelling around the city of Abu Dhabi. The route leads over numerous small islands and ends at the Abu Dhabi Breakwater. Anything other than a bunch sprint would be a big surprise.
Photo: RCS SportThe 6th stage of the UAE Tour 2025 on the map
Stage 7 | Sunday, 23 February 2025 | Al Ain Hazza Bin Zayed Stadium - Jebel Hafeet | 176 kilometres
Photo: RCS SportThe profile of stage 7 of the UAE Tour 2025
The big finish comes at the end. As in 2024, the UAE Tour ends on Jebel Hafeet with a mountain finish. The race takes a 160-kilometre flat approach towards the final climb. The last ten kilometres or so are uphill at 8 to 9 per cent. The steepest part is three kilometres before the finish at 11 per cent. Shortly before the finish, there is another short descent before we find out who will succeed Lennert van Eetvelt, who won the UAE Tour 2024.
Photo: RCS SportThe 7th stage of the UAE Tour 2025 on the map
The first five stages can be seen in Germany on free-to-air TV on Eurosport 1, stages six and seven on Eurosport 2, and there will also be a paid live stream of the race on Discovery Plus on all days.