Are Lorena Wiebes and Elisa Longo Borghini ready to copy and paste last year's success, or will they be challenged? – Analysing the UAE Tour Women contenders

ABU DHABI BREAKWATER, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES - FEBRUARY 09: (L-R) Lorena Wiebes of Netherlands and Team SD Worx - Protime - Green Points Jersey, Antonia Niedermaier of Germany and CANYON//SRAM zondacrypto - White best young jersey, Elisa Longo Borghini of Italy and UAE Team ADQ - Red Leader Jersey and Lara Gillespie of Ireland and UAE Team ADQ - Black intermediate sprint jersey celebrate at podium during the 3rd UAE Tour Women, Stage 4 a 127km stage from Abu Dhabi Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies Academy to Abu Dhabi Breakwater / #UCIWWT / on February 09, 2025 in Abu Dhabi Breakwater, United Arab Emirates. (Photo by Tim de Waele/Getty Images).

The 2026 Women's WorldTour continues this week with the UAE Tour Women boasting a strong line-up of contenders, mixing those just starting their seasons with others heading for the UAE after racing the Tour Down Under.

As is customary in the early-season desert race, sprints and flat stages dominate the route, with the first three stages primed for bunch finishes, unless a strong breakaway gets very lucky. Echelons and sandstorms are always a possibility in the desert, but history tells us that the sprint teams will work hard to deliver their riders to the line in this race.