After posting photos of the Dubai skyline on Twitter while out training, Fernando Alonso turned up at the start of stage two of the Dubai Tour and then jumped in a VIP car to follow the racing.
Speaking briefly in the start village, the Spanish Formula One driver confirmed that he is creating a major team for 2015 but refused to give any details.
"It's stunning here in Dubai and the finale of today's stage is amazing. It'll be interesting to follow in a car," he told Ciro Scognamiglio of Gazzetta dello Sport.
"Our project? We're working on it but for the moment we can't say anything. We're just at the start and when we can announce something, you'll be the first to know."
Alonso said he is in Dubai to prepare for the new Formula One season. He will again drive for Ferrari and uses cycling to get fit for the efforts of driving an F1 car.
"I'm training to get ready for the F1 championships. There's five weeks to the start of the season and so I'm working hard. It's warm and sunny here and so they're ideal conditions to go riding. Cycling is my favourite sport but it' hard work. Driving is definitely a lot easier…" he said before jumping in a VIP car to watch the racing first hand.
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Stephen is one of the most experienced members of the Cyclingnews team, having reported on professional cycling since 1994. Before becoming Editor-at-large, he was Head of News at Cyclingnews. He has previously worked for Shift Active Media, Reuters and Cycling Weekly. He is a member of the Board of the Association Internationale des Journalistes du Cyclisme (AIJC).
