Mark Cavendish, Alberto Contador, Vincenzo Nibali and the Rio gold medalists Greg Van Avermaet, Elia Viviani and Bradley Wiggins among the starters
Vincenzo Nibali at 2015 Abu Dhabi Tour
Abu Dhabi, 20 September 2016 – Alongside the official route and jerseys presentation of the second edition of the Abu Dhabi Tour, scheduled from 20 to 23 October 2016 - the list of the 18 teams invited to the race has been officially announced.
Eleven UCI WorldTour teams (eight of those members of the Velon group), four UCI Professional Continental Teams and three UCI Continental Teams will be at the start of the four-stage professional cycling race organised by the Abu Dhabi Sports Council that, from 2017, will join the WorldTour Calendar.
QUOTES
Mark Cavendish, Abu Dhabi Tour Official Ambassador, said: “I really look forward for the upcoming Abu Dhabi Tour. As Official Ambassador, of course, but also as a rider: this year my shoulders are fine and I definitively want to race and try to get a stage win and possibly wear a jersey. See you in one month!”
Mark Cavendish, Abu Dhabi Tour Official Ambassador, said: “I really look forward for the upcoming Abu Dhabi Tour. As Official Ambassador, of course, but also as a rider: this year my shoulders are fine and I definitively want to race and try to get a stage win and possibly wear a jersey. See you in one month!”
Vincenzo Nibali, welcomed the announcement, saying: "I am very happy to come back to Abu Dhabi after last year’s experience. I well remember the spectacle of the desert and the emotion of the final stage, with the Yas Marina F1 circuit looking spectacular under the lights. The first Abu Dhabi Tour was a memorable race with a perfect route and a very challenging mountain stage.”
TEAMS
UCI WorldTeams
ASTANA PRO TEAM (KAZ)
BMC RACING TEAM (USA)
LAMPRE-MERIDA (ITA)
LOTTO SOUDAL (BEL)
MOVISTAR TEAM (ESP)
ORICA-BIKEEXCHANGE (AUS)
TEAM DIMENSION DATA (RSA)
TEAM GIANT - ALPECIN (GER)
TEAM SKY (GBR)
TINKOFF (RUS)
TREK-SEGAFREDO (USA)
UCI Professional Continental Teams
CCC SPRANDI POLKOWICE (POL)
GAZPROM-RUSVELO (RUS)
ONE PRO CYCLING (GBR)
WILIER TRIESTINA - SOUTHEAST (ITA)
UCI Continental Teams
NASR DUBAI (UAE)
MINSK CYCLING CLUB (BLR)
TEAM WIGGINS (GBR)
Each team at the start of the Abu Dhabi Tour will consist of six riders.
UCI WorldTeams
ASTANA PRO TEAM (KAZ)
BMC RACING TEAM (USA)
LAMPRE-MERIDA (ITA)
LOTTO SOUDAL (BEL)
MOVISTAR TEAM (ESP)
ORICA-BIKEEXCHANGE (AUS)
TEAM DIMENSION DATA (RSA)
TEAM GIANT - ALPECIN (GER)
TEAM SKY (GBR)
TINKOFF (RUS)
TREK-SEGAFREDO (USA)
UCI Professional Continental Teams
CCC SPRANDI POLKOWICE (POL)
GAZPROM-RUSVELO (RUS)
ONE PRO CYCLING (GBR)
WILIER TRIESTINA - SOUTHEAST (ITA)
UCI Continental Teams
NASR DUBAI (UAE)
MINSK CYCLING CLUB (BLR)
TEAM WIGGINS (GBR)
Each team at the start of the Abu Dhabi Tour will consist of six riders.