Mark Cavendish (Team Dimension Data), Peter Kennaugh (Team Sky) and Ben Swift (Team Emirates) are all in the Abu Dhabi Tour.

The four-day stage race begins today, Thursday.

l On-form Mark Christian (Aqua Blue Sport) rides two one-day classics in France this weekend.

He rides the Sud Ardeche on Saturday and the Royale Bernard Drome on Sunday.

The former Team Wiggins rider has been on great form since joining his new team and has been prominently featured in a number of breaks, notably in the Dubai Tour and last week’s Oman Tour. He received the combativity award in the latter event, ultimately finishing 90th after working hard for other riders.

l Castletown-based Ian Stannard (Team Sky) is among a world-class field in the Kuurne-Brussells-Kuurne road race this Sunday.

Manx teenagers William Draper and Conor Davies are both riding the junior UCI 1.1-ranked version over a distance of 120km. Will is riding for the Leeds-based HMT Academy in what will be his first Continental race. He only turned 17 last month.

Conor signed for the Belgium-based Avia Wcup cycling team (aka Rudyco) towards the end of 2016.

The race, for 17 and 18-year-olds, will include some of the classic cobbled sections and climbs used in the senior event, so it will be a baptism of fire for the young Manx pair.

l Nathan Draper has just returned home from a fortnight’s training in Spain with his new Team Wiggins team-mates. For once the rain hasn’t altogether been on the plane in Spain over the past few weeks.

l The second annual MTB Night Enduro takes place this Saturday based at Carnagrie, sponsored by Okell’s.

The fun event will include a total of three timed tests in Arrasey and Glen Rushen Plantations with some track work in between. Registration is at Carnagrie clubhouse from 6pm for a 7pm start. Entries are now closed.