A series of roads are to be closed across Abu Dhabi this week to make way for riders competing in the 2017 Abu Dhabi Tour.
The rolling closures will begin in Al Gharbia on Thursday morning for the tour’s first stage, which is to be held on 188 km of roads within and between the Western Region cities of Madinat Zayed and Liwa.
The closures will be carried out in eight phases from 11.45am to 5.15pm starting and ending in Madinat Zayed on the E45 and E90 roads.
Riders will then compete in the second stage in central Abu Dhabi on Friday, which will see major roads and highways close, including Corniche Road, Al Khaleej Al Arabi Road, and Sheikh Khalifa Highway.
The Corniche Road will be closed to traffic from 1.15pm to 2pm on the initial pass and 4.15pm to 5.15pm at the stage’s finish.
The 115 km Nation Towers circuit will take riders through Reem Island, along the Abu Dhabi Corniche and south along Al Khaleej Al Arabi, past Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque.
The route then passes through Abu Dhabi’s outskirts including the neighbourhoods of Shakhbout City, Al Shamkha, Al Falah, and Al Bahia.
The final section of the stage heads through Yas Island and Saadiyat Island, before returning to the Corniche and the finish line.
Saturday’s Al Ain stage will begin at the Hazza Bin Zayed Stadium; run along the E95, E20, E16 roads; passing Qasr Al Muwajji and Al Ain Zoo, and end in a 11 km climb up Jabel Hafeet.
The final stage on Sunday will take part at the Yas Marina Circuit, with no road closures planned.

Source: The National