Madrid, 17 Feb. Pello Bilbao will be the leader of Bahrain – Victorious in the 5th edition of the UAE Tour which will take place from February 20 to 26, where he will be supported by a team that will seek a place on the podium for the Basque cyclist.
Pello Bilbao (Gernika, 32) returns to the UAE Tour after finishing third in 2022 and after securing a podium spot in the Tour Down Under this year and a fourth place in the Volta a la Comunidad Valenciana.
Starting from Al Dhafra Castle on February 20, the riders will face a total of 1,028 km of racing in seven stages. Like previous editions, the race will feature four stages suitable for sprinters, assuming mild crosswinds, and two summit finishes to shake up the overall standings.
The main difference this year is Stage 2, which features a 17.2km team time trial at Khalifa Port.
Sporting director Neil Stephens believes the team is made up of a good mix to be competitive across all seven stages.
“The team has experience, with Pello Bilbao in the lead and hoping for another podium. with Bauhaus, who have also had an exceptional start to the season and will be looking to build on their opportunities in the UAE.
In addition, Stephens refers to three young riders, Matevz Govekar, Fran Miholjevic and Johan Price-Pejtersen, “in whom we have high hopes and they will give great support to Bilbao. With the team time trial of this year, the skills of Fran and Johan They will be fundamental in the fight for the general classification.” EFE
husband/she