Now in its ninth year, the Tour of Qatar has firmly established itself as a key fixture on the early-season calendar and all eyes will be on Bradley Wiggins as he makes his first appearance in Team Sky colours.
Here we take a look at what this year's six stages have to offer, and also at those riders who are looking to make their mark on the peloton.
Background
Although the race comes at the start of the season, temperatures in the Middle Eastern emirate will still be over 20 degrees centigrade and the riders will have to acclimatise quickly if they are to challenge for top honours in this 2.1-rated event.
The flat terrain on every stage makes it a sprinter's paradise with Tom Boonen winning three out of the last four editions. Edvald Boasson Hagen has been tipped for big things this season and the routes will suite his explosive finishing skills.
Sunday February 7: Stage 1 - West Bay Lagoon to West Bay Lagoon - 8.2km
(live on British Eurosport 2 1100-1200GMT, highlights later)
The race gets under way as usual with a short team time trial, this time starting and finishing at the majestic West Bay Lagoon. The teams of eight will head out towards the Doha Golf Club before cutting back on themselves all the way to the finish line. Wiggins captured the leader's golden jersey with a pulsating performance in 2009 and his new team-mates will be doing all they can it secure it for a second year in succession.
Monday February 8: Stage 2 - Camel Race Track to Qatar Foundation - 142km
(live on British Eurosport 1200-1300GMT, highlights later)
The crowds will see the peloton depart from the Camel Race Track before turning north along the near-straight roads past Al Otouriyah and up to Al Ghuwayriya (53km) where they will battle it out for the first sprint points of the tour. After that the route swoops east before joining North Road and back down towards Umm Suwaiyah for the second sprint after 96km. The riders then continue south past the Lusail Race Track (121km) and into the northern suburbs of Doha. They pass the Doha Golf Club (133.5km) for a second time in as many days and into Al Duhail (139km) before the race culminates outside the Qatar Foundation.
Tuesday February 9: Stage 3 - Dukhan to Mesaieed - 136.5km
(live on British Eurosport 2 1200-1300GMT, highlights later)
The north western town of Dukhan has been chosen to see off stage three and the route follows the coastal road south for 21.5km before heading back inland at Umm Bab. It's straight all the way to the first sprint at Wadi Lejmal (57.5km) and the route then curves around the Abu Nahlah airport before heading east until Al Wakra emerges from the desert on the opposite coastline (114.5km). Another sprint follows there and then it's south, past Umm Said, and down to the finish line in Mesaieed.
Wednesday February 10: Stage 4 - The Pearl to Al Khor Corniche - 146.5km
(live on British Eurosport 2 1200-1300GMT, highlights later)
The man-made island of Pearl is the glamorous starting location before the riders pedal back onto the mainland and through the northern suburbs of Doha. Once out of the city boundaries they travel westwards along Dukhan Road, through Al Samniyah (33km), before heading north at the Camel Race Track (34.5km) along same highway they took on stage two. At Al Aturiyah the road forks left up to Al Jemayliya (65.5km), where the riders take on their first sprint, before a straight line all the way up to Al Ghuwairiya (94.5km). Here they will contest their second sprint before the final run-in to Al Khor.
Thursday February 11: Stage 5 - Lusail to Madinat Al Shamal - 142km
(live on British Eurosport 2 1200-1300GMT, highlights later)
The peloton rolls out of Qatar's newest city Lusail and heads north back up to Al Khor (22km). The first sprint section comes a further 24km along at Umm Suwaiya before joining the North Road. The route then kinks west just before Al Dawoudiya (82.5km) and continues all the way to Al Zubarah (113.5km), which hosts sprint number two. From there it's the coastal road right up to "the city of the north" Medinat Al Shamal.
Friday February 12: Stage 6 - Al Wakra to Doha Corniche - 123.5km
(live on British Eurosport 1100-1200GMT, highlights later)
From Al Wakra the riders will stretch their legs as they head south along the Umm Said Road, preparing themselves for an early sprint at Mesaieed (19.5km). With that done and dusted they travel 15km in a north-westerly direction before heading on a triangular route back to where they started. The peloton passes Doha airport as they then sweep north into the capital and towards the headland. The tour concludes with seven laps of a 6km city loop, the third of which sees the riders take on one final sprint before ending in a blaze of glory at the finish line.
