UAE Tour Women 2026

The UAE Tour Women 2026 is a UCI Women’s WorldTour stage race held in the United Arab Emirates and forms part of the elite global calendar of professional women’s cycling. The UAE Tour Women 2026 runs from 5 to 8 February 2026, featuring four stages that combine sprint opportunities, rolling desert terrain, and a decisive summit finish to test both sprinters and general classification contenders.

Direct answer:
The UAE Tour Women 2026 is a four-stage UCI Women’s WorldTour race taking place 5–8 February 2026 in the United Arab Emirates.

For more Women’s WorldTour coverage, see our Women’s WorldTour Teams and Riders 2026 guide.

Quick Facts: UAE Tour Women 2026

• Race name: UAE Tour Women
• UCI classification: Women’s WorldTour
• Date: 5–8 February 2026
• Location: United Arab Emirates
• Format: Four-stage race
• Terrain: Flat sprint stages, rolling desert roads, summit finish
• Calendar position: Early-season Women’s WorldTour stage race

Therefore, the UAE Tour Women 2026 acts as the first major stage-race test of the Women’s WorldTour season.

What Is the UAE Tour Women?

The UAE Tour Women is a professional multi-day stage race on the UCI Women’s WorldTour calendar. Teams awarded Women’s WorldTour licences receive automatic entry, ensuring every top-tier squad competes. Consequently, the UAE Tour Women 2026 provides one of the earliest opportunities to assess sprint form, climbing condition, and overall team strategy in the new season.

UAE Tour Women 2026 Route Overview

The race is scheduled across four stages, designed to create varied tactical challenges:

• Flat and fast stages favouring pure sprinters
• Rolling desert terrain encouraging breakaways
• A summit finish shaping the general classification
• Long straight roads where positioning and pacing are crucial

As a result, the UAE desert landscape produces high-speed racing, wind-driven strategy, and decisive climbing action in the closing stage.

Summit Finish Climb Breakdown

The defining GC moment of the UAE Tour Women 2026 is the summit finish:

• Long sustained climb in the final stage
• Gradual gradients that reward pacing discipline
• Final kilometres ridden at high sustained power
• Often decisive for overall victory

Because the summit finish arrives after multiple flat stages, GC contenders must balance time gains on the climb with sprint bonuses collected earlier in the race.

UAE Tour Women 2026 Race Tactics

This stage race rewards:

• Pure sprinters targeting early flat stages
• All-rounders contesting stage placings consistently
• Climbers focusing on the summit finish
• Teams with strong lead-out and GC protection depth

If desert winds rise, echelons can form and split the peloton. If sprint stages remain controlled, time bonuses become critical. Therefore, tactical discipline across all four days determines overall success.

History and Recent Winners

Recent editions show the competitive profile of the race:

• 2023 winner: Elisa Longo Borghini
• 2024 winner: Lotte Kopecky
• 2025 winner: Elisa Longo Borghini

These results highlight that the UAE Tour Women rewards riders who combine climbing strength with consistent high placings across sprint stages.

2026 Edition Details

The UAE Tour Women 2026 takes place from 5 to 8 February across the United Arab Emirates. The four-stage format blends flat desert highways, rolling terrain, and a summit finale. Positioned immediately after the Australian WorldTour events, the race provides early-season insight into rider form and team cohesion.

Startlist Status for 2026

Official startlists will be published by the race organiser and UCI shortly before the event.

At present:

• All Women’s WorldTour teams are eligible to start
• Final rider entries will appear in the UCI rider database
• Early listings remain provisional until organiser confirmation

Accordingly, confirmed team rosters should be checked during race week.

Weather and Local Conditions

February in the UAE typically delivers:

• Warm daytime temperatures
• Dry desert air
• Occasional crosswinds on open highways

Therefore, hydration, heat management, and wind positioning are essential. When crosswinds intensify, strong teams can split the race long before the final climb.

Viewing Guide

The UAE Tour Women is broadcast through official race partners and streaming services with live timing available via the race organiser’s platform.

You can find official race information and stage updates on the event website at https://www.theuaetourwomen.com and UCI Women’s WorldTour calendar listings at https://www.uci.org.

Why the UAE Tour Women Matters

The UAE Tour Women 2026 is the first major Women’s WorldTour stage race of the season. It reveals sprint hierarchy, early GC contenders, and team tactical sharpness. For fans, it offers spectacular desert racing. For analysts, it provides the first true performance benchmark of the Women’s WorldTour year.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the UAE Tour Women 2026?

The UAE Tour Women 2026 takes place from 5 to 8 February 2026 in the United Arab Emirates.

How many stages are in the UAE Tour Women?

The race features four stages, combining sprint finishes and a summit finish.

What type of riders does the UAE Tour Women suit?

It suits sprinters in early stages and climbers in the final summit stage, with consistent all-rounders targeting the general classification.

Who has won previous UAE Tour Women editions?

Elisa Longo Borghini won in 2023 and 2025, while Lotte Kopecky claimed victory in 2024.

Where can I watch the UAE Tour Women live?

Live coverage and streaming details are published by official race broadcasters and on the UAE Tour Women website during race week.