Teams gather in the desert on the eve of Dubai Tour
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Vittorio Brumotti performs during the Dubai opening ceremony.(Image credit: Bettini)
BMC Racing on stage at the Tour of Dubai presentation.
Elia Viviani takes the stage with Team Sky. (Image credit: Bettini)
Football legend Diego Armando Maradona watched the team presentation in Dubai.(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
Performers on bikes entertain the crowd in Dubai.(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
Team Novo Nordisk take the stage in Dubai.(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
CCC Sprandi Polkowice(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
SkyDive Dubai presented at their home race.(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
One Pro Cycling are presented in Dubai.(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
Movistar take the stage for the Dubai team presentation.(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
Etixx-QuickStep on stage in Dubai.(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
Team Wiggins on stage in Dubai.(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
Confetti flies from the rafters at the Dubai team presentation.(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
Performers and teams on stage in Dubai.(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
Teams are presented in Dubai.(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
Confetti litters the floor at the Dubai team presentation.(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
Former teammates Tony Martin, Mark Cavendish and Mark Renshaw greet each other in Dubai.(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
Mark Cavendish and former teammate Julien Vermote greet each other in Dubai.(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
Giant-Alpecin in stage in Dubai.(Image credit: Bettini)
Rui Costa (Lampre-Merida) at the Dubai team presentation.(Image credit: Bettini)
Football legend Diego Maradona meets locals during the team presentations ahead of the Tour of Dubai
Artists perform during the team presentation show ahead of the Tour of Dubai
A cyclist performs in front of the teams during the team presentation show at the Westin hotel
Sir Bradley Wiggins leader of Team Wiggins looks on as ticker tape falls during a team presentation show ahead of the Tour of Dubai.
Trek Factory Racing on stage at the Tour of Dubai opening festivities.
Team Sky on stage at the Tour of Dubai team presentation.
Michael Rogers swaps jerseys with football legend Diego Armando Maradona.(Image credit: Bettini)
Tinkoff team present former footballer Diego Armando Maradona with a jersey and bike.(Image credit: Bettini)
Tinkoff Team at the Tour of Dubai team presentation.(Image credit: Bettini)
Lampre-Merida on stage at the Tour of Dub ai team presentation.(Image credit: Bettini)
Astana team presented at the Tour of Dubai opening ceremony.(Image credit: Bettini)
Giant-Alpecin appear on stage at the Tour of Dubai presentation.(Image credit: Bettini)
Tinkoff's Stefano Feltrin gets a jersey signed by football legend Diego Armando Maradona.(Image credit: Bettini)
Mark Renshaw and Mark Cavendish of Dimension Data wait their tun with Michael Rogers (Tinkoff) at the Dubai team presentation.(Image credit: Bettini)
Davide Rebellin (CCC Sprandi Polkowice) in Dubai.(Image credit: Bettini)
Fans gets selfies with performer Vittorio Brumotti(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
On the eve of the Dubai Tour in the United Arab Emirates, teams gathered Tuesday evening at the Westin Hotel for the official presentation and opening ceremonies. Performers on bikes entertained the crowd with tricks while former football legend Diego Maradona was on hand to greet locals and riders alike among his admirers.
The evening provided a reunion of sorts for former teammates who have moved on to different squads, and the event hosts created quite a gala atmosphere, complete with confetti and acrobatics.
The four-day 2.HC race begins Wednesday with the opening 179km stage from Dubai to Fujairah and concludes on Saturday with the 132km circuit race around Dubai.
Cyclingnews will be on the ground in Dubai all week to bring you the news as it happens, but for now check out the team presentation gallery above from Getty Images, Bettini and Tim de Waele.
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