Picture used for illustrative purpose only.

Gulf Today, Staff Reporter

Gearing up for the new season, the UAE Team Emirates squad will begin preparations with a training camp to be held in Abu Dhabi.

The team will arrive in Dubai before travelling to Abu Dhabi to meet with sponsors and participate in other team engagements.

The 28-member squad, which also includes Emirati Yousif Mirza, will assemble in the UAE for a training camp that runs until Jan.22.

The second half of the camp will be based in Al Ain and focus more on training, where the riders will take in challenging terrain, including the Jebel Hafeet climb where Tadej Pogacar won a thrilling stage 5 of the 2020 UAE Tour.

Pogacar scored a dramatic victory in the 2020 Tour de France, winning the time trial to La Planche des Belles Filles on the final weekend to snatch the title from his fellow Slovenian Primoz Roglic.

Recently, the UAE Team Emirates secured the services of Fabrizio Guidi for the 2021 season, who will join the sporting staff in the role of Sports Director.

Guidi, 48, has much experience in the role having spent time with teams such as Nippo, Saxo-Tinkoff and most recently at EF Pro Cycling.

“It’s a team I have admired for a long time. I’m happy and proud to join a strong and ambitious team with a solid project for the future.

It’s an important opportunity and I can’t wait to spend my energy on this exciting adventure,” said Guidi.