From the UCI Road World Champion to a Tour de France winner: Five riders to watch at Abu Dhabi Tour

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From the UCI Road World Champion to a former Tour de France winner, Paul Oberjuerge picks five riders to watch at the inaugural Abu Dhabi Tour.
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Peter Sagan, Slovakia
At 25, one of the rising forces in cycling. Ten days ago, he clinched the UCI Road World Championship in the United States, winning the 261.4-kilometre race by three seconds. The Tinkoff-Saxo rider has won the "classification" championship at the Tour de France each of the past four years, and four stages overall, and was ninth in the Vuelta a Espana last month while winning one stage. Carries the nickname "Terminator".

Fabio Aru, Italy
The slender Sardinian last month won the Vuelta a Espana for ProTeam Astana, his first victory in a Grand Tour. In 2014, he was third in the Giro d'Italia and fifth in the Vuelta, and in 2013 he was a key supporter of Astana team leader Vincenzo Nibali as the latter won the Giro. Known for his climbing ability. If he is to win in Abu Dhabi, he will be expected to do well in Stage 3 that ends with the climb up Jebel Hafeet.

Vincenzo Nibali, Italy
Thanks to his 2014 Tour de France victory, the Astana rider is perhaps the best-known rider in Abu Dhabi this week. He also boasts victories in 2013 Giro d'Italia and 2010 Vuelta a Espana, making him one of only six men to win each of the Grand Tours. Was fourth in the Tour de France this year and was disqualified from the Vuelta when he was towed by the team car as he tried to catch up from a crash. Nickname: "the Shark".

Alejandro Valverde, Spain
The Movistar Team rider, 35, is considered one of the best of the sprinter/climber hybrids, which would seem to position him well for Abu Dhabi. Twice runner-up in the UCI Road World Championship, bronze-medallist four times, including 2013 and 2014. Third at the Tour de France this year, champion of his home race, the Vuelta a Espana, in 2009. Seems to like the desert — he was fourth at Dubai this year, third at Oman.

Philippe Gilbert, Belgium
The BMC Racing Team leader, 33, is best known for his performances in "classics", with 10 victories in major one-day races since 2008 and a silver-medallist this year in the Clasica de San Sebastian. He was eighth in the Dubai Tour in February, won two stages of the Giro d'Italia in May and was 10th in the UCI Road World Championship last month. Has the curious nickname "Boar of the Ardennes".