The fourth edition UAE Tour marks the start of the WorldTour calendar. The 7 stage race across 1,081km runs from the 20th to 26th February.

The race will have four opportunities for the sprinters, a 9km ITT, and two summit finishes with Jebel Jais on stage 4 and Jebel Hefeet on the final stage, concluding the race and ultimately determining the GC. The Peloton will need to have their wits about them on the flat stages with the potential of crosswinds, which broke the race apart last year on stage 1.

The best young rider at La Vuelta, Gino Mäder, leads the lineup alongside the experienced Pello Bilbao. They will have the support of Maciejuk, Pernsteiner and team debutant Alejandro Osorio. Under 23 ITT World Champion Johan Price-Pejtersen also debuts for the team and will eye the Stage 3 ITT, while Jonathan Milan rounds up the team and will be looking for chances in the bunch sprint.

Sports Director Neil Stephens commented: “I’m really happy with the lineup we have for the 2022 UAE Tour. We are going in with high aspirations with our two GC riders, Gino Mäder and Pello Bilbao. Gino is an up and coming GC rider who has done some exciting things in the past, and we are looking forward to backing him for his first time as a team leader in UAE.

With Pello, we have more of an experienced rider who is an excellent climber and a good time trialist. The GC will not only be won on the two climbing stages but also on the crosswind stages. It’s really a complete bike race, with winds, time trials and sprints.

We are also looking to have a good test on the ITT with Price and Milan. So overall, we are very much looking forward to the UAE Tour.”