Feb 11, 2023 Press conference

One-two triumph for Trek-Segafredo on the top of Jebel Hafeet

Silvia Persico in third rounds out the new GC podium. Tomorrow Stage 4 will close the race in Abu Dhabi and crown the first winner of the UAE Tour Women.

(©UAE Tour Women)

Jebel Hafeet, 11 February 2023 – Elisa Longo Borghini and Gaia Realini produced an incredible display of climbing to claim a one-two victory for Trek-Segafredo on top of Jebel Hafeet.

The Italian duo proved the strongest on the final ascent of the day, and crossed the line hand-in-hand with Longo Borghini just ahead of her teammate to take the stage win and Red Jersey. Realini’s efforts were also rewarded with the 21 year old being awarded the White Jersey.

Longo Borghini now sits seven seconds ahead of Realini at the top of the General Classification, with Silvia Persico (UAE Team ADQ) – who finished 1 min 11 sec behind that pairing on the stage – in third overall. Stage 2 winner Lorena Wiebes (Team SD Worx) meanwhile, stayed in control of the Green Jersey with one stage remaining.

The Abu Dhabi Sports Council Stage took the riders 107km from the Hazza bin Zayed Stadium in Al Ain, and once again, the action took place at a frenetic pace.

Five riders formed an early breakaway but they were caught as the peloton approached the final climb of the day. As the speeds ramped up, pre-race favourite Marta Cavalli (FDJ-Suez) was dropped before the road began to rise, and the peloton’s numbers continued to dwindle in the last 10km as the world’s best climbers came to the fore.

Indeed, only Longo Borghini and Realini were still in contention on the final drag to the finish line, and celebrated their victory in fine style.

(©LaPresse)

STAGE RESULT
1 – Elisa Longo Borghini (Trek-Segafredo), 107km in 2h48’24”, average speed 38.123km/h
2 – Gaia Realini (Trek-Segafredo) s.t.
3 – Silvia Persico (UAE Team ADQ) 1’11”

H.E Aref Al Awani, General Secretary Of Abu Dhabi Sports Council, H.E Dr. Mugheer Khamis Al Khaili, Chairman Of the Department community Development, H.E Mansour Bou Assiba, President of the UAE Cycling Federation, Fatima Al Ali, Representative of Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies Sports Academy, Ghalia Alahbabi, Communication Office Director- UAE University, General Fadel Ghdayer Al Shamsi, Acting Directorate of Al Ain Police, Ati Abdullla Al Dhaheri, Familiarization Trips Unit Head Travel Trade & Market Development. (©Sprint Cycling Agency)

OFFICIAL JERSEYS

Red Jersey, General Classification. Sponsor: Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies Academy
– Elisa Longo Borghini (Trek-Segafredo)
Green Jersey, Points Classification. Sponsor: Bike Abu Dhabi – Lorena Wiebes (Team SD Worx)
White Jersey, Young Rider Classification. Sponsor: Abu Dhabi 360 – Gaia Realini (Trek-Segafredo)
Black Jersey, Intermediate Sprint Classification. Sponsor: Experience Abu Dhabi -Agnieszka Skalniak-Sojka (Canyon//Sram Racing)

GENERAL CLASSIFICATION
1 – Elisa Longo Borghini (Trek-Segafredo)
2 – Gaia Realini (Trek-Segafredo) at 7″
3 – Silvia Persico (UAE Team ADQ) at 1’18”

Saeed Al Muheiri, Qualitative Sports Department Director, ADSC, awarded Lorena Wiebes the Green Jersey (©LaPresse)

GENERAL CLASSIFICATION
1 – Lorena Wiebes (Team SD Worx)
2 – Charlotte Kool (Team DSM) s.t.
3 – Chiara Consonni (UAE Team ADQ) at 10″

(©Sprint Cycling Agency)

PRESS CONFERENCE
Elisa Longo Borghini said in the press conference: “This is the way you always dream to win, together with your teammate! Today I owe a lot to Gaia, she was just incredible setting such a hard pace and when we found ourselves alone we decided to try to go to the finish and celebrate together.

“I wanted Gaia to win the stage, and me the Red Jersey, but the Team DS did some calculations and said I should go for the win and Gaia would get the White Jersey of best young rider. Gaia wanted to cry because of how happy she was. She was amazing, and she’s such a talented young rider. I’m really glad to have her on my team, and to see her growing as a rider and person.”

Gaia Realini said: “Today was a very hard stage, but it was incredible for me. It’s my first season riding for a big team, and my first race for them, so I’m delighted to be on my first podium. Elisa and I had a good rhythm on the climb and it unbelievable to cross the line together. This has been a big day for us.”

(©Sprint Cycling Agency)

Lorena Wiebes said: “We expected some crosswinds and tried to do something with that and push it full gas until the start of the climb to try and put Anna Shackley in a good position, and she did a really good job finishing the stage in seventh.

“Once the climb had started, I could take it a little bit easier because tomorrow is another chance for a sprint and we will go again to try and win that.”

(©LaPresse)

Agnieszka Skalniak-Sojka said: “It was a really hard race, right from the start. My teammates did a really good job in the final so I am really happy. I’m happy to be in this jersey, I feel good and am enjoying the race, and I hope to defend it to the finish now.”

(©LaPresse)

TOMORROW’S STAGE
Stage 4: Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies Sports Academy – Abu Dhabi Breakwater (119 KM)

A stage around the city of Abu Dhabi. Departure is from the Sports Academy where the first part of the route heads northward to Khalifa City and then to the industrial area of Khalifa Port. It then converges on Yas Marina to go to Saadiyat Island, touching the Louvre Abu Dhabi and Corniche, until arriving at Abu Dhabi Breakwater for a sprint finish.

Last kms
Last 5 km is on a wide road with large semi-curves that lead to the finish line on asphalt.

UAE TOUR APP
Download the official UAE Tour App now and stay updated on the race, riders’ timings and everything that’s happening during the stage:
IOS: https://itunes.apple.com/ae/app/uae-tour/id1451821362?mt=8
Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=it.rcs.uaetour

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.