CYCLING – Team Bahrain Victorious’s Antonio Tiberi claimed a brilliant solo victory on stage three of the UAE Tour yesterday, winning atop the new summit finish of Jebel Mobrah after the 183-kilometre leg started from Umm Al Quwain.
After a largely controlled day on the flat run-in, the race ignited on the steep final climb. Felix Gall of Decathlon-CMA CGM launched the first major move with six km to go, with Tiberi immediately following before making his decisive attack with four km remaining, opening a gap as the gradients spiked.
Behind, Remco Evenepoel of Red Bull-Bora-hensgrohe began to crack on the steepest slopes and ultimately surrendered the red jersey, losing two minutes and four seconds.
Isaac del Toro of UAE Team Emirates-XRG mounted a late chase and clawed time back in the closing kilometres, but Tiberi held firm to the line to win by 15 seconds.
The result moved Tiberi into the red jersey as race leader and also the white jersey as best young rider, sitting 21 seconds ahead of Del Toro on the general classification (GC).
Another key GC showdown is expected on Jebel Hafeet on stage six.
“It’s amazing,” said a delighted Tiberi.
“This is a dream for me, and I still need to realise what I’ve done.”
“I started the season with really good sensations right from the training camps. Then, in my first race, I felt that I was already close. I had been waiting for this moment to come, and today it finally happened.”
“It’s even more special to achieve it on such a hard climb here in the UAE. I came here with the goal of finishing in the top five, maybe even the top three.
“I think today, I showed that I can also try to win the UAE Tour, and from now on I will definitely go for the victory.”
The UAE Tour is the Middle East’s only stage race on the UCI World Tour.
This year’s event is scheduled to continue until Sunday.
Action continues today with the 182km fourth stage, starting and finishing in Fujairah, where the first meaningful time gaps are expected to be seen.
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