The World Champion racked up his 11th success in a stage race, after a stellar week for the Wolfpack.
Remco Evenepoel added another notch to his belt, the first since triumphing at last year’s World Championships, sealing the GC victory at the fifth edition of the UAE Tour, which came to a conclusion on the demanding gradients of Jebel Hafeet (10.8km, 6.6%), the second-highest peak in the Emirates. It was another important step forward for Soudal Quick-Step’s 23-year-old Belgian, who climbed onto the highest spot of the podium for the 38th time in his career.
Evenepoel had to battle not just the steep ascent Sunday afternoon, but also the blazing heat, which he overcame thanks to a massive effort and determination. But his success wasn’t built only in the mountains, but also in the crosswinds which tore the peloton to pieces on the opening day. Remco was one of the main protagonists there, taking the race by its horns and dealing a big blow to many of his rivals, before increasing his lead in the standings thanks to a flawless ride of the Soudal Quick-Step boys in the second stage team time trial.
Having taken the red jersey thanks to another consistent ride atop Jebel Jais, the World Champion – supported by a squad that rode body and soul for him – Evenepoel cemented his place in the general classification, and was handsomely rewarded at the end of the week with the 11th stage race triumph of his career, and the first since he conquered La Vuelta in September 2022.
“It was tough today. The pace was insane from the bottom to the top. When I went together with Adam Yates, I thought he would stay on my wheel until the final kilometers, but then he attacked and I had to go over my limit in order to remain within touching distance. Seeing him all the time reassured me of the overall win. The goal was to keep the jersey and it makes me happy and proud that I could defend my position and win this race”, said Remco, who also finished as the best young rider of the UAE Tour.
Soudal Quick-Step leave the Emirates with a total of four victories: the general classification, the TTT and the pair of stages brought by Belgian Champion Tim Merlier, who also took home the green jersey – the first time in his career that he won the points classification in a World Tour race.
“We can be proud of what we achieved this week. We were in the mix every time, we worked well as a team and we can be satisfied with everything. I came here without any time spent training at altitude, it was my first attempt of the year to fight for the GC, so to be sincere, at the start of the week I wasn’t expecting to win the race. But I did it and this makes me confident for the rest of the season and for Il Giro”, added the Belgian after Soudal Quick-Step’s tenth victory of the year.
Photo credit: ©Dario Belingheri / Getty Images
