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Dubai Tour 2014: stage one – five observations

A blessing in disguise for Mark Cavendish and the forgotten man of British Cycling returns

The efforts to make professional cycling a global sport are to be applauded, but as has been proven by races like the Tour of Beijing, Europe remains cycling’s heartland.

Events such as the Tour Down Under, now in its sixteenth year and with its own, unshakeable position as the opener to the UCI WorldTour calendar have proven that it is possible to establish successful races on other continents, however.

These are the earliest of days for the Dubai Tour of course, but despite a star-studded line-up, it does not appear to have the same pulling power, if the crowds which lined the streets of Adelaide and those who turned out on the emirate are compared. 

Crowds clamour for a view of the action at the the Criterium du Dauphine, but spectators were few in Dubai (pic: Sirotti)

Although it was a significantly short route, and in a city at the forefront of international business any racing on a working day is unlikely to make huge waves, the crowds were nevertheless surprisingly sparse. And even then, it was not the locals who turned out in numbers but ex-pats – as proven by the warm reception Mark Cavendish was afforded as he rolled off the start ramp.

It is unsurprising Dubai wants a bite of the ever-growing pie that is professional cycling, and as settings go there can be few quite so stunning. However, in terms of crowd numbers, this one appears to be a slow burner.

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