Jebel Hafeet will close the 533km UAE Tour Women for the first time in 2026, changing the race so the general classification is not decided until the final 10 kilometres of the four-stage race. The new format centres the Middle East's only Women's WorldTour event on the final climb, with three flat stages before the 8–9% gradients above Al Ain.
Elisa Longo Borghini (UAE Team ADQ), the defending champion, is the lead rider for the host squad. She will be joined by Anna van der Breggen (SD Worx-Protime), whose begins her second season back from retirement. The sprint stages bring together Lorena Wiebes (SD Worx-Protime), holder of six UAE Tour Women stage wins, and Charlotte Kool (Fenix-Premier Tech), who will renew their rivalry on the flat avenues of Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
Route Overview
The 2026 edition covers 533km across four days, beginning on February 5 in the coastal town of Al Mirfa and concluding on February 8 atop Jebel Hafeet. Three flat stages precede the mountain finale, but the opening day's exposed desert roads carry significant GC risk if crosswinds materialise. Stages 2 and 3, through Dubai and Abu Dhabi respectively, favour organised sprint trains on wide urban avenues.
Race Stages
4 Stages • 533km total
| Stage | Date | Route | Distance | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stage 1 | Feb 5 | Al Mirfa - Madinat Zayed | 111 km | Road Stage |
| Stage 2 | Feb 6 | Dubai Police Academy - Hamdan Bin Mohammed Smart University | 145 km | Road Stage |
| Stage 3 | Feb 7 | Abu Dhabi TeamLab Phenomena - Abu Dhabi Breakwater | 121 km | Road Stage |
| Stage 4 | Feb 8 | Al Ain Hazza Bin Zayed Stadium - Jebel Hafeet | 156 km | Road Stage |
Stage Analysis
Stage 1: Al Mirfa to Madinat Zayed (111km)
The opening stage runs along exposed desert roads with no natural shelter. Wind forecasts indicate gusts of up to 30km/h. If conditions align, aggressive teams can force the peloton into echelons – diagonal formations that split the field across the road. Riders caught out of position risk losing minutes early in the race. Pure climbers without strong positioning instincts are most vulnerable.
Stages 2 and 3: Dubai and Abu Dhabi sprints (145km, 121km)
Both stages suit traditional bunch finishes. The Dubai stage is the longest of the race, winding through the city toward Hamdan Bin Mohamed Smart University on wide, flat roads. Stage 3 follows a similar pattern through Abu Dhabi to the Breakwater. Breakaways have historically struggled to survive the organised chase from sprint teams, and this year SD Worx-Protime and Fenix-Premier Tech will be chasing. These stages typically produce high-speed lead-out battles with minimal GC changes.
UAE Tour Women stage 2 profile
UAE Tour Women stage 3 profile
Stage 4: Al Ain to Jebel Hafeet (156km)
The queen stage begins with 145km of flat approach before the 10km ascent of Jebel Hafeet. The climb averages 8–9% with ramps reaching 11%, demanding sustained threshold power rather than explosive accelerations. With no subsequent stages to recover time, the GC is likely to be decided on these slopes. Longo Borghini won here in 2025; Van der Breggen's climbing record makes her a key challenger.
GC Contenders
Elisa Longo Borghini starts as a leading contender. The Italian knows the Jebel Hafeet gradients intimately and has UAE Team ADQ built around her ambitions. Silvia Persico, who finished third on the summit finish Trofeo Marratxi-Felanitx, provides climbing support.
Anna van der Breggen enters her second year back in the professional peloton. After a 2025 season spent reintegrating into the WorldTour pace, the 35-year-old now faces a definitive test of her climbing form on Jebel Hafeet – a mountain she conquered in 2021. While she is no longer a complete unknown, the question remains whether she has bridged the physical gap to the very top tier of climbers over the winter to challenge Longo Borghini.
Kasia Niewiadoma (Canyon//SRAM) thrives on punchy finishes and aggressive racing. The Pole's explosive style could trouble Longo Borghini if she attacks early on Jebel Hafeet's steeper ramps, though sustaining power over 10km may favour more metronomic climbers.
Sprint Battle
Lorena Wiebes is among the leading sprinters. Her six stage wins across previous editions demonstrate consistent success on UAE roads, and SD Worx-Protime's lead-out train is among the most practised in the peloton. However, Wiebes has not raced since late 2025, so her current race sharpness is uncertain.
Charlotte Kool is the major challenger to Wiebes. The wide UAE roads suit parallel train battles, reducing some of the positioning difficulties that sometimes affect Kool.
Key Absences
Demi Vollering (FDJ-SUEZ) has opted to skip the race, typically spending this time of year on a training block targeting later-season objectives. Lotte Kopecky (SD Worx-Protime), the 2024 winner, is absent following her winter track commitments. Pauline Ferrand-Prévot (Visma-Lease a Bike) has also declined early-season travel, prioritising her Tour de France Femmes defence. Without them, teams built around Longo Borghini, Van der Breggen and Niewiadoma are expected to shape the GC.
Conditions
Temperatures of 24–28°C are comfortable for racing, with 9 to 14 mph southeasterly winds which may be enough to form gaps on the wide exposed roads in places.
Prediction
Elisa Longo Borghini is well placed to target a third title. Her familiarity with Jebel Hafeet, combined with UAE Team ADQ's depth, aligns well with a course that rewards sustained climbing. Anna van der Breggen could contend for second if her early-season form is strong; Kasia Niewiadoma could race for a podium place if she gains time on the steeper ramps.
In the sprints, Lorena Wiebes is a candidate to win multiple stages, with Charlotte Kool well placed to take one if she times her move correctly against the Dutch lead-outs.
Cover image credit: Thomas Maheux/SWpix.com
