The Dubai Women’s Cycle Tour is set to make history with 16 different teams from 13 countries lining up for the inaugural event.

The best riders from across the globe will be competing in the event running from February 17-20 February with the UAE’s own women’s team also participating.

Among the competitors are UCI Women’s Continental team Doltcini-Van Eyck, as well as Italy’s Aromitalia – Basso Bikes – Vaianoeven featuring one of the stage winners from last year’s Giro Rosa.

Noura Al Jasmi, the Dubai Women’s Cycle Tour director and UAE Cycling board member said ahead of the event: “We anticipate this tour will inspire the next generation of young Emirati girls to follow in the footsteps of our current women’s national team and the possibility of representing their country on the world stage.

“The calibre of athlete, and the teams that have registered to compete are of the highest level in the sport and we expect some fierce, quality racing over the four-day event.”

The tour itself will take place over four stages, with the initial first stage lasting over 99km across desert land and finishing at Town Square Dubai.

The second stage will cross paths with the Nad Al Sheba racecourse on its 106km course, while the third stage is one for the climbers as it travels through the Hatta Mountains.

The fourth and final race, the Dubai Health Authority Stage will be over 112km of track and will then be followed by the crowning of the first Dubai Women’s Cycle Tour Champion on February 20.

The second edition of the men’s UAE Tour Cycling will take place between February 23-29 across the emirates. The popularity of cycling has grown exponentially in the UAE in recent years.