gonbike.com - News: "UAE Tour - Valverde wins Stage 3"

- Titolo: "UAE Tour - Valverde wins Stage 3"
- Tratta dal sito: http://www.gonbike.com
- Pubblicata: Tuesday 26 February 19 15:38
- Link alla notizia: http://www.gonbike.com/news_prod/view.php?id=2281

World Champion Alejandro Valverde wins Stage 3, the Department of Transport Stage, of the UAE Tour - Primoz Roglic retains the Red Jersey

Jebel Hafeet, 26 February 2019 – The UCI Road World Champion Alejandro Valverde (Movistar Team) has won Stage 3, the Department of Transport Stage, of the inaugural edition of the UAE Tour, ahead of Primoz Roglic (Team Jumbo - Visma) and David Gaudu (Groupama - FDJ). Roglic remains the leader of the GC and wears the Red Jersey.

STAGE RESULT
1 - Alejandro Valverde (Movistar Team), 179km in 4h44’50”, average speed 37.706km/h
2 - Primoz Roglic (Team Jumbo - Visma) s.t.
3 - David Gaudu (Groupama - FDJ) s.t.

JERSEYS

The Red Jersey, sponsored by the Emirates (General individual classification by time) - Primoz Roglic (Team Jumbo - Visma)
The Green Jersey, sponsored by ADNOC (General individual classification by points) - Stepan Kuriyanov (Gazprom - RusVelo)
The White Jersey, sponsored by Nakheel (Best Young Rider born after 1 January 1994) - David Gaudu (Groupama - FDJ)
The Black Jersey, sponsored by Abu Dhabi Aviation (Intermediate Sprint Jersey Classification) - Stepan Kuriyanov (Gazprom - RusVelo)

GENERAL CLASSIFICATION
1 - Primoz Roglic (Team Jumbo - Visma)
2 - Alejandro Valverde (Movistar Team) at 14"
3 - David Gaudu (Groupama - FDJ) at 31"
Speaking seconds after the stage finish, the stage winner Alejandro Valverde said: “I really wanted to get my first win of the year. It's been difficult but I felt good and I had the advantage of knowing the climb very well so I could choose my pace. I knew I had to repeat the exact same tactics as last year. My priority was to win a stage. If I can add the GC, it's great. If not, it doesn't matter after what I achieved today with the help of my team.”

The Red Jersey Primoz Roglic said: “It's true that I've tried to win the stage as well as defending the jersey. It was my first time here so I didn't know the finish but most importantly we've showed today with the guys that we are a super strong team.”

OMORROW'S STAGE
Stage 4 – DUBAI MUNICIPALITY STAGE – Palm Jumeirah-Hatta Dam – 197km
The longest stage of the UAE Tour, this is another classic route in the Emirates, having been raced before as the most difficult stage of the Dubai Tour, and having remained virtually unchanged since the first edition of that race. Only the start has been modified, departing from Palm Jumeirah. After the first part through the desert the route hits the Hajar Mountains. Here, the last hills from the gates of Hatta peak at the suffocating final tier of the Hatta Dam with its gradients that touch 17%.

Final Km
The last 3km are continuously climbing with a series of curves until the final climb to the top of the dam: a short, punchy 200m wall with gradients between 12% and 17%. Final straight is 150m long and 5m wide on tarmac.

#UAETOUR

::RCS Sport Cycling - Press Release::