The inaugural Tour of Dubai starts today with Isle of Man cyclist Mark Cavendish looking for early season sprint wins.
Today's time trial brought no success but team-mate Tony Martin was 4th.
His Omega Pharma-Quick Step team will be looking to help the Manx Missile win the next three stages against other sprinting stars including Marcel Kittel, Tyler Farrar, Thor Hushovd and Peter Sagan.
The Omega team helping lead-out Cav has been remodelled with Mark Renshaw and Alessandro Petacchi included in the set-up.
Cavendish and Renshaw enjoyed many successful years together at HTC and it will be interesting to see if the old chemistry is still there.
Young German rival Marcel Kittel announced himself in style at last year's Tour de France winning four stages, including on the last stage in Paris ending the four year winning streak of the Manx Missile.
Cav is the undoubted sprint king of recent years and is third on the all-time list of stage winners at Le Tour with 25.
The Dubai Tour takes place from today and runs through to Saturday 8th February
Rugby: Douglas face Ramsey in last Manx Cup qualifier
Manx athletes to descend on 2024 London Marathon
Football: Peel and Onchan to meet in Women's FA Cup Final
Higgins earns FC Isle of Man draw at Irlam
Payne & Rousseau prepare for world championship opener
Football: Ramsey beat Braddan to maintain combi one control
