Wiebes wins after a wind-swept trip across the desert The Dutch rider outspints stage one winner Charlotte Kool to seal her first win of the season, and claim the Red, Green and White Jerseys in the process. Agnieszka Skalniak-Sojka meanwhile, takes control of the Black Jersey.Tomorrow Stage 3 from Hazza Bin Zayed Stadium to Jebel Hafeet.
Al Mirfa, 10 February 2023 – Lorena Wiebes emerged triumphant in a thrilling second day of action – the Al Marina Holding Stage – at the first-ever UAE Tour Women.
The Team SD Worx rider went head-to-head with Charlotte Kool (Team DSM) once again in the final sprint of the day, and this time she came out on top in the battle with her former team-mate.
That victory also ensured Wiebes took the Red Jersey in the process, and she sits level on time with Kool at the top of the General Classification heading into the Queen stage of the race, with Chiara Consonni (Team UAE ADQ), who finished fifth on the stage, 10 seconds behind in third.
The Al Marina Holding Stage commenced at Al Dhafra Castle and took the riders on a 133km trip across the desert before the action culminated in the picturesque coastal town of Al Mirfa.
A fast and furious start saw the peloton split into echelons almost as soon as the start flag had lowered as strong winds made for a dramatic day in the saddle.
GC hopeful Marta Cavalli (FDJ Suez) was just one of the big-names that were initially distanced as a 15-strong group including Elisa Longo Borghini (Trek – Segafredo), Wiebes and stage one winner Kool disappeared up the road and built a lead of almost five minutes.
A lengthy and hard-fought chase ensued before the chase group eventually brought the leaders back with just over 20km to go. The tension didn’t stop there though, and Cavalli found herself on the wrong side of a split once again, loosing 31″, on the fast run-in to the destination town where Wiebes ruled supreme.
PRESS CONFERENCE Lorena Wiebes said in the press conference: “It was a hard stage, we had crosswinds from the beginning. Today I felt better, while sprinting I could feel I had more power in my legs and I showed it. This win is not really a revenge for me after yesterday, now I am ready for the next opportunity.
“My teammates did a great job keeping me out of danger, we always rode in the front of the race and in the first group. In the finale they helped me out with positioning, I really wanted to finish it off for them.”
The Black Jersey, Agnieszka Skalniak-Sojka, said: “It was a tough stage but I made it with my teammates. We rode in the front of the peloton since the start of the stage, I am happy with my performance and of the whole team. Now I am excited about tomorrow’s stage.”
Stage 3: Hazza bin Zayed Stadium – Jebel Hafeet (107 KM)
The classic mountain stage of the UAE Tour. In the first part, the route winds through Al Ain, where many of the symbolic places are visited (including Hazza bin Zayed Stadium, UAE University). It then makes a passage through the desert, along the Truck Road E30 and returns to Al Ain for the classic passage of Green Mubazzarah. Here the final climb of Jebel Hafeet begins, where its final 10 km will be the judge of the race.
Last kms
The final climb winds through wide-ranging hairpin bends on a 3-lane roadway. Gradients mainly around 8-9% with a peak of 11% at 3 km from the finish. Very short descent in the last km before a final ramp upwards. The finish straight is on asphalt.
Lorena Wiebes e le sue compagne di squadra (La Presse)
UAE TOUR PRESS ROOM
The media can download high resolution pictures of the race from the official online pressroom. In order to download the pictures, just go to http://pressroom.rcssport.it/ (username: press / password: press), select “Media”, then “Cycling”, then “UAE Tour”. The photos are free of charge for editorial use, as long as both the UAE Tour and the photographer’s name are credited.
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UAE Tour Women 2023