Cycling: Alejandro Valverde (Movistar) has won the final stage of the Abu Dhabi Tour and the overall classification of the Tour. The 37-year-old Spaniard prevailed on the final climb, Jebel Hafeet, after 199 kilometers in front of Miguel Angel Lopez (Astana). The previous leader Rohan Dennis (BMC) had absolutely no chance and lost a lot of time. However, the German teams Bora-hansgrohe and Sunweb presented themselves strongly today.
Valverde celebrates, Dennis disappoints
After five stages, the Abu Dhabi Tour came to an end. Some drivers had good reasons to be very angry. Other professionals, on the other hand, were allowed to celebrate exuberantly. Among them are – once again – Alejandro Valverde. Even at 37, the Spanish veteran simply never tires. On the king's stage of the Abu Dhabi Tour, he proved once again that he is one of the best climbers of his generation. In the final climb, Jebel Hafeet, he initiated the decisive attack through which leaders Rohan Dennis lost the connection. After that he jumped with a respectable sprint Miguel Angel Lopez (Astana) forward. He finally defeated this in the fight for the day's victory. Alejandro Valverde is also slightly ahead in the overall standings. He finishes the Abu Dhabi Tour with 17 seconds wilco kelderman (Sunweb) and that same Miguel Angel Lopez. Rohan Dennis lost so much time that he ended up finishing the Abu Dhabi Tour in ninth place.
André Greipel climbs like a mountaineer
Before the classification and climbers came into focus on this fifth and final stage of the Abu Dhabi Tour, a breakaway group of nine dominated the course of the race. With a lead of around ten minutes, the German was also there André Greipel (Lotto Soudal) and the Austrian Matthias Brandle (Trek-Segafredo) represented in front. As expected, as the final climb Jebel Hafeet began, the group broke up. Surprisingly, André Greipel was able to stay in front for a long time. He only had to come along with 6,6 kilometers to go Lawson Craddock (EF Education First-Drapac p/b Cannondale) let the last companion go and then the sprinter was placed from the already decimated field. set at the same time Alejandro Valverde his attack, the overall leader Rohan Dennis lost touch and the battle for stage and overall victory began.
¡Ataca Valverde! #RideToAbuDhabi pic.twitter.com/HxziZ8boAP
— Alpe d'Huez B&T (@Alpe__dHuez) 25. February 2018
Valverde with the first and the last decisive attack
After the attack by Alejandro Valverde the competitors waited only a few seconds. Julian Alaphilippe (Quick-Step Floors) followed up first. It followed him among others Miguel Angel Lopez (Astana) and the Bora-hansgrohe duo Rafal Mayka and David Formolo, as well as the Sunweb duo wilco kelderman and Tom Dumoulin. Dumoulin and Formolo sacrificed themselves for their colleagues because of the overall ranking. In addition, Dumoulin suffered another breakdown anyway, which is why he threw his bike around in a rage. But the race went on unimpressed. Craddock has long since been caught. New leader was Miguel Angel Lopez, who was now being chased by a well-known but small group of pursuers.
About two kilometers from the finish Alejandro Valverde the fax thick. The Spaniard sprinted Miguel Angel Lopez forward and was now without a doubt driving for victory in the overall standings. Alejandro Valverde was able to secure this in the end because he finished the stage ahead of Miguel Angel Lopez and Julian Alaphilippe won and wilco kelderman lost 15 seconds in fifth. The Bora-hansgrohe team also made a strong showing: Rafal Mayka and Davide formolo finished fourth and sixth in the daily standings and fifth and sixth in the overall standings. The German Emmanuel Buchman finished tenth almost unnoticed.
#Happy Sunday for Alejandro Valverde, que gana en Jebel Hafeet y se lleva el #AbuDhabiTour!! 🏆
🇦🇪 #RideToAbuDhabi
📹@Alpe__dHuez pic.twitter.com/4tCGkCH3dB— Maillot Arcoiris (@MaillotArcoiris) 25. February 2018