Human Powered Health will compete in the desert at the UAE Tour Women, bringing its sprinting power to the Middle East from February 5 through 8.
With sprint days, wind and a grand finale atop the Jebel Hafeet mountain, 2026 promises to be the most exciting edition to date.
Santos Women’s Tour Down Under one-day classic winner Maggie Coles-Lyster heads up the team’s sprint power. Silvia Zanardi, Daria Pikulik and rouleur Marit Raaijmakers join her for the flat tests. Nina Buijsman and climber Petra Stiasny will have eyes firmly fixed on the final day climb.
UAE Tour Women Stage by Stage
2/5
Stage 1
Route: Al Mirfa – Madinat Zayed
Distance: 111 km
Parcours: Flat
Look out for: Crosswinds in the exposed desert
What matters: Being well-positioned if it does split
Stage 1 is an immediate test of a team’s overall strength. The road out of Al Mirfa has been used in every edition, in both directions, and is prone to race-splitting crosswinds. The sprint trains will have to be vigilant if they want to set up a mass bunch kick in Madinat Zayed.
2/6
Stage 2
Route: Dubai Police Academy – Hamdan Bin Mohamed Smart University
Distance: 145 km
Parcours: Flat
Look out for: An almost arrow-straight final 15 kms before two right-handers in the final kilometer
What matters: Prime formation and positioning going into the two right-hand turns
This year’s Dubai finish is different to previous Dubai stages and takes the race a little outside the metropolitan sprawl for another expected sprint showdown. Finishing on a wide avenue, there is plenty of space for the top hitters to go shoulder-to-shoulder.
2/7
Stage 3
Route: Abu Dhabi TeamLab Phenomena – Abu Dhabi Breakwater
Distance: 121 km
Parcours: Flat
Look out for: A patch of wind in the final kilometer heading onto Al Kasir island
What matters: It’s easy to start the sprint too early here, so wait until the perfect moment
Traditionally held on the last day, this year the Abu Dhabi stage is its penultimate. Taking in all the sights of Abu Dhabi before a sprint finale, it will be the last chance to crown the queen of the sprinters.
2/8
Stage 4
Route: Al Ain Hazza Bin Zayed Stadium – Jebel Hafeet
Distance: 156 km
Parcours: Mountain top finish
Look out for: Early pace setting dictates how the final climb is raced
What matters: The 10.7 km at 6.9% Jebel Hafeet mountain top finish
The classic GC decider in the UAE Tour, the uphill finish at Jebel Hafeet, will crown the race victor, and this year it acts as the race finale. After crossing the desert, the peloton takes on the 10km climb, a wide road that winds through hairpins, before the road then plateaus and then kicks up to the line.
How to watch
USA
FloBikes 2/5 – 2/8 from 5:45 am EST / 4:45 am CST / 3:45 am MST / 2:45 am PST
Europe
Eurosport/Discovery+/Max with via the B/R Sports Add-On (territory dependent) 5/2 – 8/2 from 11:45 CET
UK
Discovery+/TNT Sports 5/2 – 8/2 from 10:45 GMT
What our athletes think
Maggie Coles-Lyster
My confidence is high heading into the UAE. That win down under, just six months after my FLIA surgery, was a real testament to the potential I’ve always known I have, and I feel like it’s only going to keep building from here. Getting my first win in years unlocked something in me. I know I’m smart and tactical in chaotic finishes, and that’s exactly the kind of racing I expect in the UAE. I hope to be on the podium on sprint days and knocking on the door for another win. We have a well-balanced team here, with a strong sprint squad as well as a strong GC team, so I also expect us to have a good GC result on the last stage. Nina came away with sixth in GC at TDU, and Petra spent 106 km solo off the front at Cadel’s Great Ocean Road Race, so I think the whole team is coming into the UAE positive and ready to keep this good momentum going.
Marit Raaijmakers
Besides racing, Australia was a big training block. Early on, we decided with the team and the performance side that a longer off-season and a longer build time into the season was my strategy for a good 2026. I surprised myself handling fatigue, heat and racing very well. Not so many times do you get to do things for the first time in this job, so I’m excited to do a new race. Previous editions showed chaotic echelons and sprint finishes. When the mindset is there, I love those races. I know I’m valuable to the team in those situations. I’m hoping I can put the right people in the right position when it matters.
In addition to the UAE Tour Women, Human Powered Health will also participate in the Vuelta CV Feminas one-day race on February 8, which will be broadcast across the WBD Sports and HBO networks.
Photos: GettySport
