The Belgian made a huge leap in the general classification on the last stage.
Junior Lecerf took his best result since turning pro in a World Tour race after an action-packed day at the UAE Tour, which once again concluded on the slopes of Jebel Hafeet. The Belgian’s result rounded out another remarkable week for Soudal Quick-Step, as our team also celebrated two stage victories delivered by European Champion Tim Merlier.
A breakaway featuring Ayco Bastiaens bolted away in the opening kilometers and enjoyed a two-minute gap before the race exploded behind due to the strong crosswinds. All six Soudal Quick-Step riders who were in the peloton made the cut and as soon as they bridged across, took over the reins in the newly-formed bunch, drilling it at the front for Junior Lecerf, who had a good opportunity of gaining some places on the general classification as many climbers found themselves in the wrong echelon.
The front group arrived at the foot of Jebel Hafeet (10.8km, 6.6%) with a gap of minutes on the chasers, and Pascal Eenkhoorn did a great job in the opening kilometers of the climb to move Lecerf up through the field and shelter him from the headwind. When red jersey Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) attacked, the 22-year-old decided to ride his own pace, which helped him conserve energy as long as other riders began suffering and losing time.
In the hard final kilometer, Junior gritted his teeth and dug deep on his way to a remarkable achievement – top ten on the stage and eighth overall at this seventh edition of the UAE Tour – a result that brought a lot of satisfaction and confidence to the young Belgian.
“I’m very happy, because it’s my first time in the top ten at World Tour level! The team did a great job today and it’s also thanks to them that I got this result. It was an incredible stage for us, we were in the right echelon and the guys took good care of me there. The climb was a tough one, but I did my best and it feels incredible to finish eighth here after this big effort – I would go as far as saying it’s my biggest achievement since turning pro”, Junior explained after the last day of the UAE Tour, at the end of which he gained ten places on the general classification.
Photo credit: ©Dario Belingheri / Getty Images
