With the inaugural Dubai Tour starting tomorrow, Mark Asquith looks at five of the cyclists to make headlines during the four-stage event this week.
1. Fabian Cancellara: The four-time world time-trial champion and former Olympic gold-medallist is a favourite to take the first stage, a 9.9-kilometre individual time trial. He also has a history of success in the region; he won the Tour of Oman in 2010.
2. Mark Cavendish: The sprint credentials of the "Manx Missile" are second to none: his 25 stage wins in the Tour de France put him third on the list of winners. Marcel Kittel and Thor Hushovd, however, will be out to make sure Cavendish does not have it all his own way.
3. Rui Costa: The Portuguese rider is the world road-race champion and, thus, is entitled to wear a rainbow jersey emblematic of that title. The two-time Tour de Suisse winner is also a strong time-trialer, making him a strong contender for the overall championship.
4. Peter Sagan: At 24, the Slovakian is one of the sport's rising stars. He has seven grand tour stage wins and is known for speed in the sprints as well as strength in multi-stage races. Often, his bad boy image overshadows his talent, but he is never dull to watch.
5. Vincenzo Nibali: Former winner of the Giro d’Italia and the Vuelta Espana, and third in the 2012 Tour de France, the Italian is one of the best multi-stage riders. He was the only rider close to Sir Bradley Wiggins and Chris Froome in the 2012 Tour and defeated the former in the Giro last year.
