Marhaban! from Stage 2 of the Abu Dhabi Tour

From Yas Mall to Yas Beach (148km), the stage runs in the eastern part of the city of Abu Dhabi

Yas Mall, 22 February 2018 – مرحباً (Marhaban!) from Stage 2, Yas Island Stage, of the fourth edition of the Abu Dhabi Tour (21 - 25 February 2018), the only WorldTour race in the Middle East and organised by the Abu Dhabi Sports Council in partnership with RCS Sports and Events. From Yas Mall to Yas Beach (148km), the stage runs in the eastern part of the city of Abu Dhabi. Entirely flat stage: a final bunch sprint is expected.

During the stage, 36 Green Jersey Points (of a race total of 128 remaining), 16 Black Jersey Points (of a race total of 48 remaining), and 16 seconds in time bonuses are up for grabs.

The ceremonial roll out started on schedule at 12:00, After crossing the 2,500m neutralised zone, the peloton of 137 riders passed km 0 at 12:04.

WEATHER
Yas Mall (12:00): Partly Cloudy, 27°C. Wind: Weak – 6kph
Yas Beach (15:30): Partly Cloudy, 26°C. Wind: Moderate – 16kph

The following riders will be equipped with the Velon data-tracking system:
1-Rui Alberto Faria Da Costa, 2-Fabio Aru, 5-Alexander Kristoff, 7-Diego Ulissi (UAE Team Emirates); 31-Domenico Pozzovivo, 32-Niccolo Bonifazio, 34-Ion Izagirre Insausti, 35-Matej Mohoric (Bahrain - Merida); 42-Vincenzo Albanese, 46-Marco Maronese, 47-Alessandro Tonelli (Bardiani CSF); 51-Rohan Dennis, 54-Damiano Caruso, 53-Brent Bookwalter, 55-Kilian Frankiny (BMC Racing Team); 124-Mekseb Debesay, 122-Stephen Cummings, 123-Scott Davies, 125-Lachlan Morton (Team Dimension Data); 135-Michael Woods, 137-Daniel Mclay, 136-Daniel Moreno, 133-G. Lawson Craddock (Team EF Education First); 81-André Greipel, 82-Sander Armee, 87-Marcel Sieberg, 86-Remy Mertz (Lotto Soudal); 101-Alejandro Valverde, 105-José Rojas, 102-Daniele Bennati, 106-Jasha Sütterlin (Movistar Team); 92-Caleb Ewan, 91-Simon Yates, 94-Roman Kreuziger, 95-Luka Mezgec (Mitchelton - Scott); 111-Julian Alaphilippe, 117-Elia Viviani, 114-Nicolau Enric Mas, 113-James Knox (Quick-Step Floors); 156-Danny Van Poppel, 151-Jos Van Emden, 157-Robert Thomas Wagner (Team Lotto NL - Jumbo); 171-Castroviejo Jonathan, 173-Halvorsen Kristoffer, 174-Geoghegan Hart Tao, 175-Sebastian Henao Gomez (Team Sky); 181-Tom Dumoulin, 182-Nikias Arndt, 186-Wilco Kelderman, 183-Phil Bauhaus (Team Sunweb); 191-Gianluca Brambilla, 192-Matthias Brändle, 193-Niklas Eg, 197-Toms Skujins (Trek - Segafredo).
Their live data can be seen at: http://www.abudhabitour.com/

The following riders will be equipped with the Velon Fusion 360 cameras:
154-Antwan Tolhoek (Team Lotto NL-Jumbo) and 185-Lennard Hofstede (Team Sunweb).

DOWNLOAD

• Abu Dhabi Tour Stage 2 start photo gallery
• Abu Dhabi Tour official roadbook
• Abu Dhabi Tour route details

STAGE AND TIMINGS
Stage 2 – Yas Island Stage (148km)
From Yas Mall to Yas Beach
Finish: Approx. 15.30
Race Headquarters: Yas Events Centre, Yas Island, Entrance Gate 20, Yas West Entrance

JERSEYS

• The Red Jersey, sponsored by the Al Maryah Island (General individual classification by time) - Alexander Kristoff (UAE Team Emirates)
• The Green Jersey, sponsored by Emirates Post (General individual classification by points) - Alexander Kristoff (UAE Team Emirates), worn by Andrea Guardini (Bardiani CSF) 
• The White Jersey, sponsored by Abu Dhabi Sports Channel (Best Young Rider born after 1 January 1993) - Caleb Ewan (Mitchelton - Scott)
• The Black Jersey, sponsored by Etihad Airways (Intermediate Sprint Jersey Classification) - Nikolay Trusov (Gazprom - Rusvelo)

ROUTE
The route of Stage 2 is predominantly through in the eastern part of the city. After the start, it runs to Al Rahba, then Khalifa Port, where the first intermediate sprint is located. Then, still on wide and straight roads, it goes through Al Bahya (second intermediate sprint) before returning to Yas Island. The whole course is on wide roads but riders must pay attention to the cat's eyes that divide the lanes.

Last kilometres
The final 5km is all on a wide road with broader bends leading to the asphalted finish line. The last curve is with 750m to go.


POINTS OF INTEREST
148km to finish line – Start: Yas Mall
Yas Mall is the capital’s biggest and the UAE’s second largest shopping centre, with a variety of unique and exclusive stores.
 
140km to finish line: Emirates Park Zoo
With over 1,700 animals, including a majestic pair of white tigers, a 32-year old, 300kg Siberian bear, lions, cheetahs and dozens of zebras housed in the zoo’s ‘Predators’ and ‘Wild Animals’ enclosures, the Emirates Park Zoo in Al Bahia, a north-east suburb of the UAE capital features a park-wide ‘misting system’ which keeps animals and patrons cool in the summer months. Connected to the zoo, the Emirates Park Resort features air-conditioned accommodation with balconies overlooking the zoo, cave or garden.
 
50km to finish line: Khalifa Port
Located in Taweelah, midway between Dubai and Abu Dhabi, deep water Khalifa Port is the first semi-automated container port in the region, and one of the most efficient and technologically advanced in the world. Its state-of-the-art infrastructure allows the handling of all of Abu Dhabi’s container traffic, with the ability to serve the largest ships at sea, with flexibility for future expansion.
 
50km to finish line: Kizad
Since the launch in 2010 and signing the first Musataha agreement in 2011 to having 14.1 million square metres of land leased in 2016, Khalifa Industrial Zone Abu Dhabi (KIZAD) has steadily proven its unique value to investors looking for outstanding access to markets via excellent transport networks, facilitated by the adjacent Khalifa Port and connections to major air, sea, and future rail.
 
148 - 6km to finish line: Yas Island
An emerging entertainment destination just a 30-minute drive from downtown Abu Dhabi, Yas Island is home to the state-of-the-art Yas Marina Circuit – host to the annual F1™ Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Set on Yas Island’s tranquil southern shores, Yas Beach is the island’s only stretch of beach. Open daily from 10am – 7pm, it is a great spot to relax and enjoy sun, sea, sand, food and drinks. Set to open in 2018 on Yas Island, Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi will feature six immersive lands making a one-of-a-kind, world-class destination and home to 29 state-of-the-art thrill rides, and interactive family friendly attractions.
 
148 - 5km to finish line: Yas Waterworld
Yas Waterworld is home to 43 rides, slides and attractions, including the 238-metre long, world’s first, and largest hydromagnetic-powered, six-person tornado waterslide. A full day experience, the park draws on Abu Dhabi’s heritage and has ‘The Lost Pearl’ as its theme. It also features a souk, pearl-diving exhibits and restaurants.
 
148 - 4km to finish line: Ferrari World, Abu Dhabi
It’s fast and furious fun for all ages at Ferrari World Abu Dhabi - the world’s first Ferrari-branded theme park. The park tells the Ferrari story with passion and excitement through more than 20 exhilarating and educational rides and attractions, interactive shopping and authentic Italian dining experiences.
 
3km to finish line: Yas Viceroy Hotel
This unique five-star hotel is set half on land and half on water, overlooking the F1 circuit. Its covering, a 219m expanse of sweeping steel and glass panels, provides a veil draped over the two hotel towers, linked by a bridge that crosses the racetrack. The lighting system, comprising more than 5,000 diamond-shaped glass panels, changes colour through cable TV screens and creates a stunning optical effect.
 
3 km to finish line: Yas Marina Circuit
Host to the annual F1™ Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, the Yas Marina Circuit offers a series of track day driving packages. At the circuit’s center piece is Yas Viceroy Abu Dhabi, a five star, iconic hotel – the only one in the world to straddle an F1 race track, being breathtakingly built half on land and half over water. Attracting Super Yachts from as far away as Australia for the annual F1™ Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, the Yas Marina is central to Abu Dhabi’s ambitions of becoming a strong rival to traditional yachting grounds such as the Mediterranean and Caribbean. 
 
1km to finish line: Yas Links
On the west shores of Yas Island, Yas Links Abu Dhabi – an award-winning golf course, designed by Kyle Phillips, one of the world's leading golf course architects - is in line with the traditional links golf commonly associated with the coastal towns of Scotland and Ireland. Voted among the 'Top 10 New International Golf Courses' by the influential US publication Golf Magazine, Yas Links features a 7,450 yard par 72 course, utilizing five teeing grounds per hole, with all 18 benefiting from ocean views. Recently Yas Links has also been named one of the world’s top 25 by influential US magazine, Golf Digest.
 
0km to finish line – Finish: Yas Beach
Set on a majestic stretch of white sand, and easily connected to all of the island’s diverse leisure activities, this laid- back beach is a blissful new development on the emirate’s entertainment district. Sun seekers holidaying at any of Yas Island’s seven hotels and hotel apartments can now enjoy complimentary access to Yas Beach.

TODAY'S STAGE TV COVERAGE
Stage 2 - YAS ISLAND STAGE: Yas Mal-Yas Beach (154km) 

• Abu Dhabi Sports Channel 1 (Arabic) 11:55 - 15:30 GST (LIVE)
• Abu Dhabi Sports Channel 6 (English) 11:55 - 15:30 GST (LIVE)
• Eurosport 2 19:00-20:00 CET (Delayed)
• Eurosport Asia Pacific 10:45-12:45 CET (LIVE)
• Rai Sport / Rai Sport +HD  16:30-18:30 CET (Delayed)
• La chaîne L'Équipe 10:45-12:45 CET (LIVE)
• Kwese Sport 1 11:45-13:30 CAT (LIVE)
• SuperSport SS6 11:45-13:30 CAT (LIVE)
• ESPN 3 06:45-08:45 ART (LIVE)
• fubo.TV 04:45-06:45 EST (LIVE)
• DAZN 18:45-20:45 JST (LIVE)
• SKY Sport NZ 1 22:45-00:45 NZST (LIVE)

#RideToAbuDhabi

• Abu Dhabi Tour website
• Abu Dhabi Tour YouTube Channel
• Facebook page
• Twitter page
• Google+ Profile
• Instagram official