#highlight #Young #Belgian #Lennert #Van #Eetvelt #hits #double #final #climb #UAE #Tour
UAE Tour
09:34 Al Ain – 13:12 Jebel Hafeet
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Lennert Van Eetvelt surprised himself and the cycling world with a great performance in the final stage of the UAE Tour. The Belgian from Lotto-Dstny jumped away from an elite group in the final kilometers and with the bonus seconds had just enough left over Ben O’Connor. The 22-year-old jumped from 9th to 1st place in the WorldTour race. Leader Jay Vine collapsed on the final climb Jebel Hafeet. “This was the plan,” he said confidently.
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The last stage of the UAE Tour turned out to be a true spectacle.
On the, how could it be otherwise, flat run-up to the final climb, it was the wind that provided the first excitement.
With UAE Team Emirates and Bora-Hansgrohe, 2 teams were very active to break the peloton into pieces. Classification men Pello Bilbao and Tobias Foss were surprised in the fan battle, but were able to join again well before the foot of the Jebel Hafeet.
From the start of the climb it was Decathlon-AG2R that took the lead. Ben O’Connor’s men set a blistering pace, leaving leader Jay Vine behind 7 kilometers from the top.
The door was wide open at the back of the peloton and yet our compatriots Ilan Van Wilder (Soudal – Quick Step) and Lennert Van Eetvelt (Lotto – Dstny) more than held their own.
Nervous denouement
Several riders tried to jump away, without success. When Van Eetvelt and Van Wilder were able to break free, things looked good for Van Wilder. The Soudal – Quick-Step rider virtually won the final victory.
That was without Lennert Van Eetvelt. With a second gear he left Van Wilder behind and blasted to the stage victory and the 10 bonus seconds that go with it. At the line he was 22 seconds ahead of O’Connor.
The bonuses would ultimately be decisive for the final ranking. In the final score, Van Eetvelt has 2 seconds left over O’Connor. The 6 seconds that Van Eetvelt gained from the flight 2 days ago have proven to be crucial in this way. He succeeds Remco Evenepoel on the honors list.
Van Wilder ultimately finished 7th on top of the Jebel Hafeet. In the final classification he just missed the podium and he also saw the youth classification slip through his fingers due to Van Eetvelt’s tour de force.
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“I thought my power meter was broken”
“This is unbelievable,” the Belgian stage and final winner responded after his unexpected coup. He emphasized his own surprise with the necessary English expletives.
“This morning my team told me that I had to go for everything, that I could still win the classification. I said that we had to be realistic, because I was still far behind top riders like Jay Vine.”
“But the way it turned out was also how I had planned it in my head. Although I thought the ride would be more difficult, the wind was not as strong as hoped.”
“I just wanted to play all or nothing, because on Wednesday I had waited too long for Jebel Jais and I was disappointed.”
“Today I am so happy. This winter I have made great strides. I can hardly believe it. I even thought my power meter was broken,” Van Eetvelt stammered.
Phase by phase
Disillusionment for Van Wilder
The victim of Van Eetvelt’s tour de force is Ilan Van Wilder. The youngster from Soudal – Quick-Step narrowly misses the final podium and also has to leave his youth jersey to Van Eetvelt.
Double win for Van Eetvelt!
It took a while to calculate the bonus seconds, but it is Lennert Van Eetvelt who succeeds Remco Evenepoel on the honors list of the UAE Tour. In the final score, the Lotto-Dstny rider has 2 seconds left over O’Connor.
Bilbao will be 3rd on the podium on its birthday.
Pello Bilbao comes 2nd, O’Connor 3rd. In this way, Van Eetvelt gains another 6 bonus seconds on the Australian.
Van Eetvelt wins
He sprints everything out of his body for every second. It’s all about pushing in the final rankings. Van Eetvelt can actually win the final classification.
Last kilometer
It seems to be in for Van Eetvelt. He has a reassuring edge.
Things are looking less good for Van Wilder. He had to let go.
Belgians drive away!
Van Wilder and Van Eetvelt go out with Storer. If Van Wilder can open a gap of 10 seconds, he will actually win the UAE Tour!
Van Eetvelt solo
It’s enough for Van Eetvelt and he leaves his colleagues behind. He heads for the finish on his own.
Bilbao just not
Bilbao seems to have an opening, but it is Lennert Van Eetvelt who whistles back to the Spaniard.
Another 2.5 kilometers.
Attack Poole
Van Wilder opts out and Poole wants to take advantage of that. He tries to jump away with Rubio, but again without success.
Bart Lemmen gives a strong impression.
Attacks in the platoon
O’Connor, Rubio and Bilbao are all trying to pull away from their competitors. Currently without success.
Buchmann loses ground
Buchmann still has 30 seconds on the peloton. It seems only a matter of time before he is caught.
Youth jersey
The youth jersey is still a long way off for Van Wilder. His closest attacker, Max Poole, is also in the peloton.
One less man for Van Wilder
Jan Hirt can no longer keep up with the pace. Van Wilder will have to do it himself today.
Previous winners
In which footsteps will today’s stage winner follow?
Adam Yates (2020 Register 3 & 2023)
Tadej Pogacar (2020 rit 7, 2021 en 2022)
Alejandro Valverde (2019)
In addition to Van Wilder, Lennert Van Eetvelt is also still present in the peloton. Can he still move up to the top 5 in the final rankings?
Buchmann still in the lead
Will Buchmann provide an extra surprise here? His lead is still 1’15” and the finish line is 6 kilometers away.
Vine also fits
AG2R’s executioner work pays off! After McNulty, Vine also releases on the Jebel Hafeet. It is still 7 kilometers of climbing and the damage is already enormous.
Bjerg takes over
Jay Vine wants to regain control and sends his lieutenant forward with Mikkel Bjerg. AG2R doesn’t want to budge and sends the Dane back again.
UAE Tour
