The 2020 UAE Tour was a road cycling stage race that took place between 23 and 27 February 2020 in the United Arab Emirates (initially scheduled to take place between the 23 and 29 February). It was the second edition of the UAE Tour and the third race of the 2020 UCI World Tour.
The race was held during the COVID-19 pandemic, and following the fifth stage, two staff members of one of the teams tested positive for COVID-19. In response, the local authorities quarantined and tested all participants, including riders, organisers and team members, and cancelled the remaining two stages. As of March 3, 2020, most teams had left the country and returned to their normal early season schedules, but some teams were still being held within the UAE with very little explanation or assurances. They were eventually told they would be allowed to leave their hotel on March 14.cite web|url=https://www.cyclingnews.com/news/cofidis-please-dont-forget-us-as-coronavirus-quarantine-continues/cite news|url=https://www.cyclingnews.com/news/four-riders-reported-to-be-positive-for-coronavirus-at-uae-tour/
The race was consequently won by British rider Adam Yates of , who was leading the race prior to the cancellation. Yates took the race leader's jersey following the third stage, one of the two mountain-top finishes on Jebel Hafeet, taking a clear stage victory with over a minute's advantage over Tadej Pogačar () and maintained his lead during the second mountainous stage, won by Pogačar, who was ultimately classified second in the general classification and took the white jersey for the young riders' classification. Alexey Lutsenko of completed the podium, over a minute and a half behind Yates, thanks to strong finishes on the two mountainous stages.
Among the race's other jerseys, in addition to Pogačar taking the young rider's classification, Caleb Ewan of collected the most points in the points classification thanks to a win on the second stage and consistently high finishes on the other flat stages. The sprints classification was won by Veljko Stojnić of , whilst thanks to the high placings of Pogačar, Diego Ulissi and Davide Formolo, took the teams classification, finishing over three minutes ahead of the second best team, .
Teams Twenty teams were invited to the event, including eighteen of the nineteen UCI WorldTeams and two UCI Professional Continental teams. Each team consisted of seven riders for a total of 140 riders, of which 133 finished.
UCI WorldTeams
UCI Professional Continental teams
Route +Stages Stage Date Course Distance Type Stage winner 1 23 February The Pointe at Palm Jumeirah to Dubai Silicon Oasis Flat stage 2 24 February Hatta to Hatta Dam Hilly stage 3 25 February Al Qudrah Cycle Track to Jebel Hafeet Mountain stage 4 26 February Zabeel Park to Dubai City Walk Flat stage 5 27 February Al Ain to Jebel Hafeet Mountain stage 6 28 February Al Ruwais to Al Mirfa Flat stage Cancelled 7 29 February Al Maryah Island to Abu Dhabi Flat stage CancelledStage cancelled by local authorities following positive tests for the SARS-CoV-2 virus, responsible for the Coronavirus disease 2019, from two staff members. Total
Stages Stage 1 23 February 2020 – The Pointe at Palm Jumeirah to Dubai Silicon Oasis,
Stage 2 24 February 2020 – Hatta to Hatta Dam,
Stage 3 25 February 2020 – Al Qudrah Cycle Track to Jebel Hafeet,
Stage 4 26 February 2020 – Zabeel Park to Dubai City Walk,
Stage 5 27 February 2020 – Al Ain to Jebel Hafeet,
Stage 6 28 February 2020 – Al Ruwais to Al Mirfa,
The stage was cancelled by local authorities when two staff members tested positive for COVID-19.
Stage 7 29 February 2020 – Al Maryah Island to Abu Dhabi,
The stage was cancelled by local authorities when two staff members tested positive for COVID-19.
Classification leadership table + Classification leadership by stage Stage Winner General classification Points classification Sprints classification Youth classification Team classification 1 Pascal Ackermann Pascal Ackermann Pascal Ackermann Veljko Stojnić 2 Caleb Ewan Caleb Ewan Caleb Ewan Nikolay Cherkasov 3 Adam Yates Adam Yates Tadej Pogačar 4 Dylan Groenewegen 5 Tadej Pogačar 6 Cancelled 7 Final Adam Yates Caleb Ewan Tadej Pogačar
Classification standings General classification
Points classification
Sprints classification
Young rider classification
Teams classification
Notes
References
External links Official website