Cycling: Adam Yates (Mitchelton – Scott) took a big step towards overall victory on the third stage of the UAE Tour. The Brit won the mountain finish at Jebel Hafeet with ease and beat the competition by more than a minute.
Froome & Valverde out of shape
The mountain finish to Jebel Hafeet has been one of the highlights of the UAE Tour for years. Today, too, the 184,0 kilometer stage should provide excitement. Right at the foot of the final climb, the peloton has the breakaways around the Belgians Jasper De Buyst (Lotto – Soudal) and Victor Campenaerts (NTT) obtained. At high speeds, some well-known professionals immediately had problems and had to be pulled off. This included top sprinters and leaders Caleb ewan (Lotto – Soudal) among others Chris Froome (Ineo). The Brit seems to want to take it a little easier on his comeback. Another acceleration from Victor de la Parte (CCC) and then Adam Yates (Mitchelton – Scott) was then surprisingly able to become the old master and co-favourite Alejandro Valverde (Movistar) no longer follow.
Yates now faces overall victory
In the first attack of Adam Yates some professionals managed to restore the connection. However, when the Brit got out of the saddle again, he was gone. His competitors were only to see him again at the finish line, because catching up was out of the question. Only a whopping 63 seconds later crossed in person from Tadej pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) the runner-up crossed the finish line. Third place went to 90 seconds behind alexey lutsenko (Astana). The Austrian Patrick Conrad (Bora – hansgrohe) as seventh on the day can hope for the top ten in the overall standings. The overall victory, however, seems to have already been taken.
????????@AdamYates7 of 🇦🇺@MitcheltonSCOTT wins stage 3 of 🇦🇪@uae_tour #UAETour (📺@dubaisportstv) pic.twitter.com/nO3M9UQt6j
- World Cycling Stats (@wcsbike) February 25, 2020