مرحباً (MARHABAN!) FROM STAGE 2, THE CAPITAL STAGE, OF THE INAUGURAL ABU DHABI TOUR

Download: stage start video

Yas Marina Circuit, 9 October 2015 – مرحباً (Marhaban!) from Stage 2, the Capital Stage, of the inaugural Abu Dhabi Tour (8-11 October 2015), organised by the Abu Dhabi Sports Council in partnership with RCS Sports and Events. Starting from the Yas Marina Circuit, the home of Formula 1's 'Etihad Airways' Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, the route leads, via two intermediate sprints, to the Yas Mall, the largest in Abu Dhabi, covering 235,000sqm and with 10,000 parking places.

During the stage, 36 Green Jersey Points (of a race total of 152), 16 Black Jersey Points (of a race total of 72), and 16 seconds in time bonuses are up for grabs.

The ceremonial roll out started on schedule at 13.30, After crossing the 4km neutralised zone, the peloton of 103 riders passed km 0 at 13.41.
 

• Stage 2 Start Video
• Abu Dhabi Tour official roadbook
• Abu Dhabi Tour route details

STAGE AND TIMINGS
Stage 2 – The Capital Stage (Yas Marina Circuit – Yas Mall, 129km)
Intermediate Sprints: km 54.8 - Yas Marina Circuit and km 91.3 - Emirates Palace
Finish: Yas Mall - approx. 5.00pm
Race Headquarters: Yas Marina Circuit 
 

• RED JERSEY, sponsored by ADNOC (General Classification by time) – Andrea Guardini (Astana Pro Team)
• GREEN JERSEY, sponsored by ABU DHABI SPORTS COUNCIL (General Classification by points) – Andrea Guardini (Astana Pro Team). Jersey worn today by Tom Boonen (Etixx - Quick Step), second in the points classification
• WHITE JERSEY, sponsored by THE NATIONAL (Best Young Rider, born after 1 January 1990) – Songezo Jim (MTN - Qhubeka)
• BLACK JERSEY, sponsored by ETIHAD AIRWAYS (Intermediate Sprint Jersey Classification) – Paul Voss (Bora - Argon 18)

ROUTE
A flat stage across the city, starting at the Yas Marina Circuit and heading towards the southern part of the city along wide and mostly straight roads. After the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque and the Exhibition Hall, the peloton turns back on itself, returning to Yas Island, then follows the Corniche until the Emirates Palace. There the riders will face a U-turn, cycling again alongside the Corniche until Yas Island, where the finish line is positioned next to the Yas Mall. Again, a mass sprint is expected.

POINTS OF INTEREST
km 0 - Yas Marina Circuit
The circuit hosts Formula 1's 'Etihad Airways' Abu Dhabi Grand Prix and is open to the public for boobkable "Driving Experiences", "Passenger Experiences", private driving tuition, and racing car driving license course. Every Tuesday, the TrainYas takes place on the circuit, when it is open to bicycles (6-10 pm). At the centre of the circuit there is a unique five-star hotel, the Yas Viceroy Abu Dhabi, the only hotel in the world that is half on land, half on water, and overlooking a F1 circuit. At the Ristorante Cipriani, diners can eat dishes prepared by the chefs of Harry’s Bar in Venice.

km 0 - Yas Island
An emerging leisure destination 30 minutes from the UAE capital, Yas Island features the state-of-the-art Yas Marina Circuit, the setting of the annual Formula 1 'Etihad Airways' Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, as well as theme parks, exclusive hotels and golf courses.

km 15 - Aldar HeadQuarters 
The world's first round skyscraper, it stands on a raised peninsula and has stunning views of the city and coast. It is 110m high, has 23 floors and is considered as one of the most beautiful office buildings anywhere. (Aldar is an investment company that deals in real estate and has its HQ in Abu Dhabi. It has implemented the entire Yas Island project).

km 30 - Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque
One of the largest mosques in the world, it can accommodate 40,000 worshippers. It has 80 domes, 1,000 columns, 24 carat gilded chandeliers and the world’s largest hand-woven and knotted carpet. The largest of its chandeliers, in the main praying hall, is 10m in diameter, 15m high, and weighs 9 tons. The first ceremony in the Grand Mosque was the funeral of Sheik Zayed, who is buried in the mosque named after him. (Open to visitors every day, except Friday morning when only worshippers have access).

km 57 - Ferrari World
The first Ferrari theme park. It tells the story of the Italian automobile manufacturer with over 20 attractions, shopping, and authentic Italian specialty foods.

km 58 - Yas Waterworld
A park that covers the area of 15 soccer fields and offers rides, slides and other attractions, five of which are world-firsts: a hydromagnetic-powered, 238m long tornado waterslide; Bubble’s Barrel, the largest wavy surface ever designed for flowboard and bodyboard; and Bandit Bomber, 550m of suspended roller coaster with onboard special water and laser effects. Visitors can take aim at and splash those below, throw water bombs and get special effects, while the bystanders can splash the roller coaster riders when they pass.

km 75 - Saadiyat Island
Only seven minutes from the centre of Abu Dhabi and 20 minutes from the international airport, Saadiyat Island, which covers 27 sq km, is rapidly turning into a residential, commercial, cultural and leisure hub. It will be home to the Zayed National Museum, the Louvre Abu Dhabi and the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi.

km 80 - Manarat Al Saadiyat 
Literally "place of illumination", Manarat Al Saadiyat is an exhibition centre that invites visitors to discover the history and culture of the Saadiyat Island through ebooks with movement detectors. An state-of-the-art interactive experience.

km 80 - UAE Pavillon
Designed to recall a sand dune, the UAE Pavillon was created by the British architects Foster + Partners and was moved piece by piece from Shanghai, where almost 2 million people visited it during Expo 2010. It has been reassembled at the Manarat al Saadiyat Fair Centre and houses exhibitions and events, including "Abu Dhabi Art", an annual contemporary art exhibit for collecters, experts and artists from the whole world.

km 85 - Al Reem Island (Sun & Sky Towers)
A residential and commercial district off the Abu Dhabi coast, and the sit of one of the architectural symbols of the Emirates: the Gate Towers, a complex of interlinked towers reminding of Stonehenge. The Paris-Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi is located on the Island. Characterized by a central dome, the Emirate seat of the university is the first French institution of higher education to be inaugurated in the Gulf, and the first international university campus tout court.

km 85-100 - Abu Dhabi Corniche
The Corniche Road comprises 8km of manicured waterfront that include children’s play areas, cycle and pedestrian pathways, cafés and restaurants and the Corniche Beach, a Blue Flag beach park watched over by lifeguards.

km 90 - Ethiad Towers
A building complex with three residential towers and the 280m-high, five-star Jumeirah at Etihad Towers hotel. On floor 47 of Tower 2, the Observation Deck, at an altitude of 300m, offers breathtaking views over the city and islands.

km 90 - Big Flag
A 122m pennant (Guinness world record in 2001) holds an imposing flag of impressive size (20m x 40m). It was inaugurated to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the country.

km 92 - Emirates Palace
Abu Dhabi’s iconic building and landmark, this luxury hotel combines Arab splendour and the latest technology. The main building stretches 1km from wing to wing, and is surrounded by gardens that extend for hectares. The hotel has 114 domes, the central one being 72.6m high. The Palace has 1,002 chandeliers, the largest of which weighs 2.5 tons.

km 129 - Yas Mall
Covering 235,000 sq m and with 10,000 parking places, the Yas Mall is the largest mall in Abu Dhabi and the second largest in the Emirates. With more than 60 restaurants and coffee shops, the Yas Mall also has a 4D movie hall, a super maxiscreen (in the VOX movie theatre) and, among other things, the first Lego Concept Store in the region.

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