UAE Tour

On the flat stages, many of them around Abu Dhabi and Dubai, sprint teams control the pace and wind direction becomes a tactical variable. Echelons are possible but not guaranteed. The decisive stages are the summit finishes: Jebel Hafeet, with gradients mostly of 8 to 9 percent, and usually a second, longer climb such as Jebel Jais. They create meaningful gaps, especially when riders are still finding their legs in February. Time bonuses at stage finishes can matter as much as the climbing itself. The final general classification is usually settled on the summit finishes, though a strong time trialist can gain time if the route includes a race against the clock. Sprinters who survive the mountains can still win stages late in the week, making it a race with multiple narratives running in parallel.

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