2017 Dubai Tour

As the Dubai Tour was a 2.HC event, a limited number of UCI WorldTeams were able to participate in the race. In total, 16 teams participated in the race: 10 UCI WorldTeams, 4 Professional Continental teams, Continental team ONE Pro Cycling, and a national selection from the United Arab Emirates.[7]

For the 2017 Dubai Tour, the race was extended from four stages to five stages.[8] The full itinerary was released on 13 December 2016.[9]

The fourth stage, initially scheduled to be run over 172 km (107 mi) and to start in Dubai was initially shortened due to strong winds and sandstorms. The new stage was 109 km (68 mi) long and due to start in Hatta, whilst still finishing at the Hatta Dam.[10] The stage was later cancelled altogether due to the winds.[11]

Stage schedule

Stage	Date	Route	Distance	Type		Winner
1	31 January	Dubai to Palm Jumeirah	181 km (112 mi)		Flat stage	Marcel Kittel (GER)
2	1 February	Dubai to Ras al-Khaimah	186 km (116 mi)		Flat stage	Marcel Kittel (GER)
3	2 February	Dubai to Al Aqah	200 km (124 mi)		Flat stage	John Degenkolb (GER)
4	3 February	Hatta to Hatta Dam	109 km (68 mi)[lower-alpha 2]		Medium-mountain stage	Stage cancelled[lower-alpha 1]
5	4 February	Dubai to City Walk	124 km (77 mi)		Flat stage	Marcel Kittel (GER)

In the 2017 Dubai Tour, four different jerseys were awarded. For the general classification, calculated by adding each cyclist's finishing times on each stage, and allowing time bonuses for the first three finishers at intermediate sprints and at the finish of mass-start stages, the leader received a blue jersey. This classification was considered the most important of the 2017 Dubai Tour, and the winner of the classification was considered the winner of the race.

Additionally, there was a points classification, which awarded a red jersey. In the points classification, cyclists received points for finishing in the top 10 in a stage. For winning a stage, a rider earned 25 points, with 16 for second, 11 for third, 8 for fourth, 6 for fifth with a point fewer per place down to a single point for 10th place. Points towards the classification could also be accrued at intermediate sprint points during each stage; these intermediate sprints also offered bonus seconds towards the general classification. There was also a sprints classification for the points awarded at the aforementioned intermediate sprints, where the leadership of which was marked by a jersey in the colours of the United Arab Emirates flag.

The fourth jersey represented the young rider classification, marked by a white jersey. This was decided in the same way as the general classification, but only riders born after 1 January 1992 were eligible to be ranked in the classification. There was also a classification for teams, in which the times of the best three cyclists per team on each stage were added together; the leading team at the end of the race was the team with the lowest total time.

Stage	Winner	General classification	Points classification	Young rider classification	Sprints classification	Team classification
1[20]	Marcel Kittel	Marcel Kittel	Marcel Kittel	Dylan Groenewegen	Nicola Boem	UAE Abu Dhabi
2[21]	Marcel Kittel
3[22]	John Degenkolb
4[1]	Stage cancelled
5[3]	Marcel Kittel
Final[3]		Marcel Kittel	Marcel Kittel	Dylan Groenewegen	Nicola Boem	UAE Abu Dhabi

• Official website