Portimão > Lagos 190km The first of three potential sprint finishes awaits the fast men. It’s the usual finish in Lagos, Gerben Thijssen won a messy sprint last year.

The 51st edition of the race and the organisers have gone for it, the usual Queen stage has been changed to a TT up Alto do Malhão. With gaps hard to create on Alto da Fóia, it’s going to be all about the TT, which means a TT rider will have a better chance of taking the win.

Torrox > Cueva de Nerja 164km The opening stage is the hardest of the week, it’s a wee beauty if you ask me. The riders begin in Torrox, right on the sea front, but immediately head up into the hills. If you know this part of the world, you’ll be aware that once you leave the beach, things get very steep, very fast. Get ready for a brilliant stage.

South of Spain, here we come! A race that’s front loaded with GC stages; it’s going to start with a bang. It’s a beautiful part of the world, I’m gutted I can’t be there.

Ras al Khaimah > Jebel Jais 178km I hate this stage, I hate this climb, in fact, I hate this race. Fun times reading this preview!

Al Hudayriyat Island > Al Hudayriyat Island 12.2km ITT Flat as a pancake and exposed to the wind, it’s the same route they’ve used for a while now. Instead of the start order being reverse GC, the organisers decided that they would treat it like the opening stage, allowing teams to select when their riders started.

Úbeda > Úbeda 172km Just the 4th edition of the race, last year the route was heavily impacted by rain and most of the gravel sections were removed. This year, it’s back to normal, the riders are faced with 10 sectors and 33.1km of off-road racing. 

Madinat Zayed Shams Solar Park > Liwa Palace 138km A new type of finish for the UAE Tour. Last year, the riders were faced with the same stage, but this time the finish is uphill and not flat. The sprinters will still be confident of winning, but a certain Slovenian will be a concern.

The race sees Tadej Pogačar start his 2025 season. How long before people start complaining about boring racing? The race sticks to its traditional route, with four sprints, two mountain stages and in ITT. Can anyone stop the great man?

Rognac > Arles 191km With not much wind predicted, the race should end with its first bunch sprint.