The 2021 UAE Tour has been confirmed for next month and will for the first time feature all 19 World Tour teams, organisers announced on Thursday. Entering its third edition, the UAE Tour will take place February 21-27 and comprise seven stages across the Emirates, starting and finishing in Abu Dhabi. It will be the first UCI World Tour race of the new season. Among the teams competing will be UAE Team Emirates in their 'home' race. Star rider Tadej Pogacar finished runner-up to Mitchelton–Scott's Adam Yates in last year's race, which was shortened from seven to five stages after the <a href="https://www.thenationalnews.com/sport/other-sport/coronavirus-chris-froome-screened-uae-tour-cancelled-after-two-positive-tests-1.985666">last two legs were cancelled</a> due to positive coronavirus tests from riders and staff members. Slovenia's Pogacar famously <a href="https://www.thenationalnews.com/sport/other-sport/tour-de-france-tadej-pogacar-s-triumph-sees-a-new-cycling-star-emerge-as-uae-team-emirates-become-a-major-force-1.1080649">went on to win the Tour de France</a>, becoming the youngest winner of the race in 116 years. The first edition of the UAE Tour, in 2019, was won by Pogacar's compatriot Primoz Roglic, whom Pogacar pipped to the Tour de France title. Roglic, the top-ranked road cyclist in the world, bounced back by retaining his Vuelta a Espana title weeks later. Further details of the 2021 UAE Tour teams and riders will be announced in the coming weeks, closely followed by the announcement of the race route. Details of the strict Covid-19 protocols designed to ensure the safety of all riders, staff and everyone involved in the race will also be released shortly.
