When race organizer RCS announced the pre-race roster for this year's UAE Tour (open in new tab), there was little surprise at the fact that the lineup was dominated by sprinters.

While climbers will no doubt take the overall race title, it is undoubtedly the depth of the sprint field that makes this year's UAE Tour so attractive. Sam Bennett, from Ireland, told the assembled media: "The competition here is very fierce; the UAE Tour attracts more top sprinters than the mid-season Tour de France. We want to continue our success in the Santos Tour Down Under."

Bennett's assessment is justified. Considering that the only sprinting heavyweights not in the Middle East are undoubtedly Elia Viviani and Peter Sagan, and Dylan Groenewegen is there but will not be competing in the Tour de France, the UAE Tour is sure to attract the best sprint field in 2019 and beyond!

There are also some interesting subplots in the sprint fraternity in this year's race. Bennett and Pascal Ackermann will go head-to-head for the first time since the Irishman left Bora-Hansgrohe late last year.

The Irishman's point of contention was not the German rider, but the management of the team that prevented Bennett from competing in either the Giro or the Tour this year. Bennett and Ackermann will not isolate each other in the sprint battle ahead - that would be too short-sighted given the depth of the field this year, but still, a win for either rider would certainly be a confidence booster.

"I didn't expect to perform as well as I did at last year's Giro, and I'm hoping to continue in the same vein.

"If we win here, it will be a special race with all the best sprinters," he added.

For Caleb Yuan, who won his first race in Lotto-Soudal 12 months ago at this race, he will be looking to maintain the momentum from his two stage wins in the Tour Down Under. Roger Kluge will be absent, but there is a highly rated last man in Yasper de Baiste.

"I started the season as well as I could have hoped, but I haven't raced since the Santos Tour Down Under. In training I am in good shape. To win here as a sprinter, I need to be in top shape against such a strong field!"

Groenewegen's first and only race of the year was in Valenciana earlier this month. The Dutch rider won two stages and lost his third win to Fabio Jacobsen, but he paid the price with the points jersey.

"I started the season as well as I could have hoped, but I haven't raced since the Santos Tour Down Under. I'm in good shape in training. To win here as a sprinter, I need to be in top condition against so many riders."

As for Mark Cavendish, he enters the race with concerns about his plans for July. His qualification for the Tour de France is still up in the air, and at some point he will have to win to justify his selection. He rode to support his teammates in the Tour of Saudi Arabia earlier this year, but a win will be needed soon, and while the opposition in the UAE Tour could not be tougher, at the very least Cavendish will need to show progress.

"I went into the Tour of Saudi Arabia with high expectations. It was the first race for the sprinter team and we won the GC and two stages. It was good to get back on track. At the end of the Middle East block is the Tour of the UAE. We don't have the same group here, but we have the same high ambitions."