Alejandro Valverde (Movistar)
Alejandro Valverde (Movistar)
Last year’s world number one made a flying start to the 2014 season and proceeded to maintain that momentum for much of the campaign.
And with world ranking points now available in all races this season, the Spaniard will be keen to follow suit this year.
Movistar are set to send a strong team to Dubai with Jonathan Castroviejo, Jesus Herrada, Adriano Malori and Giovanni Visconti all in their provisional line-up.
And though Tour Down Under stage winner Juan Jose Lobato will lead the team’s sprinting hopes, Valverde’s fast finishes could put him in a good place overall before the race heads for the Hatta Dam.
Last year’s lone climb – which came before the finish of the stage – was not sufficient enough to rid the front group of Marcel Kittel (Giant-Alpecin), but it’s likely to be the climbers and puncheurs who triumph on stage three this time out and Valverde’s fast finish could well make the difference against the likes of Nibali and Joaquim Rodriguez (Katusha).