The home team will go into the race eager for strong results after a good showing in 2021 where Tadej Pogačar took home the race title before going on to win his second Tour de France title later that year.

This year's race will run from 20-26 February and will feature seven days of racing including four flat stages, two mountain stages, and an individual time trial.

The team goes into the race with a dynamic squad, with defending champion Tadej Pogačar as a leader for the GC and sprinter Fernando Gaviria also hoping to carry over his strong form from the recent Tour of Oman.

Pogačar: “I’m really excited and motivated to start the season. The last few months went almost perfectly. I had a small setback a couple of weeks ago with Covid but luckily it didn’t disrupt my preparation too much and I’m feeling good.

I’m confident to lead the team, but we know how good Joao can be too. We have trained together a lot lately and understand each other well , so if he’s strong enough to win I’m also happy. Rafal Majka is also really flying at the moment.

The important thing is we try and defend the title in the home race. The most obvious key stages will be the time trial and then the two mountain finishes at Jebel Jais and Jebel Hafeet on the final day. But each day will count, as we saw last year with huge crosswinds from the start of Stage 1: so I think from a spectators’ point of view it will be a really nice race and I can’t wait to start.”