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UAE Tour (2019) Photos February 24 - March 2

« UAE Tour 2019 Dashboard



Stage 0:  Pre-Race/ Teams Presentation  Full Results and Report

Race favorites photo-op in front of the Louvre Abu Dhabi


Race favorites pre-race press conference

Alejandro Valverde (ESP - Movistar Team): "This is a very beautiful race coming up, at the right time of the year for guaranteed good weather. The UAE Tour is an important race. It was already important here before but now, with the Dubai Tour and the Abu Dhabi Tour being united, it makes it an even more attractive event with two mountain stages and a demanding finale. I feel good and the organisation is great. I’m very happy to be here."


Mark Cavendish (British Isles - Team Dimension Data): "Of course I have great memories here in the Emirates after I won the Dubai Tour and I’ve been the ambassador for the Abu Dhabi Tour, which was already a WorldTour race. This is an incredible country. It’s great to see all seven emirates in one race. As for my personal objectives, we came here with a GC team, so we’ll try to position these guys at the bottom of the climbs and I’ll try my best in the sprints."

Vincenzo Nibali (ITA - Bahrain - Merida): "I just arrived from an altitude training camp in Tenerife. I’m here to look for a good shape and answers before the next races. This race here is more and more important every year and we’ll try to do well."

Elia Viviani (ITA - Deceuninck - Quick-Step): "The Dubai Tour was one of the most important steps to go into last season. It was probably the only stage race I could win in my career. With the Dubai Tour and the Abu Dhabi Tour coming together it make us feel that it’s more important now. The opening TTT puts pressure on everyone. The start list with all the champions here is very impressive!"

Fernando Gaviria (COL - UAE Team Emirates): "This is one of the most important races for us at UAE Team Emirates and for our sponsors. We came with climbers and Alexander Kristoff and myself for the sprints. The TTT is not really good for us, but we’ll try to lose very little time on day one and win the sprints and GC."

Tom Dumoulin (NED - Team Sunweb): "I’m getting used to starting my season here. There’s always some sort of question mark on how the shape is. Wilco Kelderman and myself will race for GC and we’ll back Max Walscheid for the sprints."





Teams presentation/opening ceremony at the Louvre Abu Dhabi
















Stage 1:  Al Hudayriat Is. → Al Hudayriat Is., 16 km  Full Results and Report


Team Jumbo-Visma won the flat 16 km TTT in 16:49, (57km/h average speed) against the backdrop of Abu Dhabi skycrapers

On the strength of powerful TTers Tony Martin, Jos van Emden and Primoz Roglic, Team Jumbo-Visma blazed around the course

Team Jumbo-Visma wins by 7s

2nd Team Sunweb + 7s

Bahrain-Merida in the start house

3rd Bahrain-Merida + 9s with the presidential palace in the background

The 2019 Team Novo Nordisk kit looks like last year's Team Sky's. Team Sky was 4th today (no photos).

5th Movistar Team + 18s

Not a bad result for Movistar, Valverde just has 18s to make back this week

Your Stage 1 TTT winners, Team Jumbo-Visma

First race leader, Primoz Roglic (Team Jumbo-Visma)

Primoz Roglic, said: “Looking at the names on paper, we came here with a strong team for the Team Time Trial but there were other strong teams in contention too so we still had to do the job. It was great to see all the guys giving 100%. It’s a really nice way to start the season and to realize how well we can do in a TTT. Team Sunweb was very close so we were quite nervous waiting for them to cross the line. It’s true that we are here with the goal of winning GC but it’s not done yet. The rivals we have here are pretty much the same we’ll have in other races later this year. The Giro d’Italia is my main goal but I just look at myself and try to be the best.”

Stage 2:  Yas Island → Abu Dhabi, 184 km  Full Results and Report


Team Jumbo-Visma owned all the leader jerseys at the start of Stage 2 after winning the Stage 1 TTT

World Champ Alejandro Valverde (ESP - Movistar Team)

Vincenzo Nibali (ITA - Bahrain - Merida)

Elia Viviani (ITA - Deceuninck - Quick-Step)

Mark Cavendish (British Isles - Team Dimension Data)

Fernando Gaviria (COL - UAE Team Emirates)

Caleb EWAN (LOTTO SOUDAL)

Marcel Kittel acknowledging the crowd

The crowd at Yas Mall


The winner's throphy

Stage 2 start scene at Yas Mall

Today's break forming

Crosswinds add excitement to flat desert racing



The last break survivors

The stage 2 sprint finish in full flight under the Big Flag in Abu Dhabi


Fernando GAVIRIA RENDON (COL/UAE TEAM EMIRATES) wins the close finish in 4:36:32 ahead of 2nd Elia VIVIANI (ITA/DECEUNINCK - QUICK-STEP), 3rd Caleb EWAN (AUS/LOTTO SOUDAL)

The finish scene in Abu Dhabi

Your Stage 2 winner, Fernando GAVIRIA RENDON (COL/UAE TEAM EMIRATES): “It was a very difficult sprint because there are a lot of strong riders here for sprinting. But my teammates did a really good job, notably in the crosswinds when the peloton split. At the end, I got a perfect lead-out from Kristoff. It's very important for us to win here as a team. The UAE is my new home.”

Stage 3:  UAE University → Jebel Hafeet, 179 km  Full Results and Report


Elia Viviani (ITA - Deceuninck - Quick-Step) and the overall winner's trophy

Team Dimension Data and their fans

World Champ Alejandro Valverde (ESP - Movistar Team) relaxing before winning again on Jebel Hafeet

Stage 1 winner and points leader, Fernando Gaviria (COL - UAE Team Emirates), signing-in

Race leader, Primoz Roglic (Team Jumbo-Visma)

Start scene for Stage 3 at Al Ain UAE University

The rollout from UAE University for Stage 3


Early attack



Riding into a sand dune



Today's unsuccessful break


Most of the stage was flat until the mountain finish

The peloton at the base of Jebel Hafeet

Laurens DE PLUS thinning out the lead group for race leader, Primoz Roglic (SLO/Team Jumbo - Visma)

Daniel Martin (IRL - UAE - Team Emirates) attacks the lead group followed by Primoz Roglic (SLO - Team Jumbo - Visma) and David Gaudu (France / Team Groupama FDJ)

Primoz Roglic (SLO - Team Jumbo - Visma) attacks

1 km to go and World champ Alejandro VALVERDE (MOVISTAR) has bridged up to the lead group

Having won here last year, caging veteran Alejandro VALVERDE (ESP/MOVISTAR) took the final corner from the lead position

Alejandro VALVERDE (ESP/MOVISTAR) wins on Jebel Hafeet ahead of race leader, Primoz Roglic (SLO/Jumbo - Visma) and 3rd David GAUDU (FRA/GROUPAMA - FDJ)

The finish scene on Jebel Hafeet: "I wanted to get this first victory so badly. I knew that it would be hard because of the strong field racing here, but I felt well and, above all, measured my efforts well. There was so much wind, more than what's normal here, and I knew that those who launched their attacks too early could pay in the end. That's why I knew Roglic's initial acceleratino was a bit too early. You had to be really cautious, remain inside the group and jump closer to the finish, not earlier than the spot where I went for it last year."

"I waited for that straight, just next to the climb's hotel, and I went on full steam to catch Daniel Martin. I caught some air and then I went for the rest. I knew Roglic was so strong, and even if I was confident about my chances, felt well during the climb, even better with the attack - I didn't really know after all if I could make it back to them. If they weren't cooperating so well, then I stood a chance - and that's what happened."

"It's incredible, I'm so proud to be able to take this first victory in the rainbow jersey, even more so in a WorldTour race like the UAE Tour, against big competitors. And it is mainly because of my team, because they worked so hard during the last three days. This victory is also a tribute to my uncle Diego, who passed away a few days ago - I always held him dear and I hope that, wherever he is, this means something big to him. For the time being, we've already got a victory, we've fulfilled a big goal here. The GC? It's difficult. If we end up having a chance, great; if not, it's not such a big deal. Of course we'll fight for it, but we must tackle things one day at a time, starting with tomorrow's uphill finish."


Your Stage 3 winner, Alejandro VALVERDE (ESP/MOVISTAR). His first win in the Rainbows.

Primož ROGLIČ (SLO/JUMBO - VISMA) acknowledges his team's work after easily defending his race lead and leads by 14s



3rd today and best young rider, David GAUDU (FRA/GROUPAMA - FDJ)

Stage 4:  Palm Jumeirah → Hatta Dam, 205 km  Full Results and Report


BORA - HANSGROHE during the teams presentation in Palm Jumeirah prior to Stage 4

Race leader, Primož ROGLIČ (SLO/JUMBO - VISMA) signing-in before another successful day in Red

Yesterday's winner, Alejandro VALVERDE (ESP/MOVISTAR)

Stage 2 winner, Fernando GAVIRIA (COL/UAE TEAM EMIRATES)

Elia VIVIANI (ITA/DECEUNINCK - QUICK-STEP) was looking ahead to tomorrow's flat sprint

Rollout from Palm Jumeirah


Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai attends Stage 4




More sandy crosswinds today

Echelons with the race leader and his team in control

Today's break

JUMBO - VISMA managing the gap

Movistar at the front

One of the hills before the finish

Tom DUMOULIN (NED/SUNWEB) attacked unsuccessfully with 10 km to go

The punchy sprint finish to Hatta Dam


Caleb EWAN (AUS/LOTTO SOUDAL) wins Stage 4 in 4:27:07 ahead of 2nd Matteo MOSCHETTI (ITA/TREK - SEGAFREDO) + 2s and 3rd race leader Primož ROGLIČ (SLO/JUMBO - VISMA)

The winning margin

2nd Matteo MOSCHETTI (ITA/TREK - SEGAFREDO) + 2s and 3rd race leader Primož ROGLIČ (SLO/JUMBO - VISMA) who extended his overall lead to 21s. Primoz Roglic, said: “I felt the heat today but I was always well protected from the wind by my teammates. Caleb Ewan was the strongest today. He won easily. I just wanted to go as fast as possible to the finish. Every day can be decisive, so I'll work on keeping the jersey with the team tomorrow before I make plans for Friday's uphill finish.”

7th Diego ULISSI (ITA/UAE TEAM EMIRATES) + 5s and 8th Alejandro VALVERDE (ESP/MOVISTAR)

12th Emanuel BUCHMANN (GER/BORA - HANSGROHE) + 5s, 13th Davide FORMOLO (ITA/BORA - HANSGROHE) and 14th Tom DUMOULIN (NED/SUNWEB)

This wasn't the kind of sprint finish that Stage 2 winner Fernando Gaviria prefers nor his Team Emirates teammate Alexander Kristoff, who was well-placed at the foot of the climb, but struggled in a big gear and was forced to walk to the finish after snapping his chainstay in half damaged originally from the crash with 7 km to go...

Scenery from the Stage 4 podium at Hatta Dam

Your Stage 4 winner, Caleb EWAN (AUS/LOTTO SOUDAL): “My advantage over the other sprinters today is that their weight is about 80kg and I'm only 67, so my power-to-weight ratio is better for such a climb at 17%. I knew I had to start the climb no further than fifth or sixth position. Kristoff started and once I found the right gear I could pass him. Before that, when the last crash happened, I was already at the front. Today's win is a good sign ahead of Milan-Sanremo which is my main goal of the first part of the year.”

Stage 5:  Flag Island → Khor Fakkan, 181 km  Full Results and Report








Stage 5 start from Sharjah to Khor Fakkan










Spread out across the line; not much separated 1st Elia VIVIANI (ITA/DECEUNINCK - QUICK-STEP) 4:48:59, 2nd Fernando GAVIRIA RENDON (COL/UAE TEAM EMIRATES), 3rd Marcel KITTEL (GER/KATUSHA ALPECIN), 4th Sam BENNETT (IRL/BORA - HANSGROHE)



Your stage 5 winner Elia Viviani, said: “After the successful season I had last year and Fernando [Gaviria] not being our teammate anymore, it's great to still win because he's the world's best sprinter and the hardest to beat. So I'm glad we did it as a team today after losing stage 2 to him. My lead-out train worked really well in this chaotic finish. We took the right decision to not spend more energy than needed yesterday and focus exclusively on today.”

The Red Jersey, Primoz Roglic, said: “As expected, it was a long day in the saddle but I didn't really get bored because we always had to be attentive in the desert with the crosswinds. Again, our team did a great job, who protected my [leading] time. For sure, we're ready for tomorrow's decisive stage.”

Stage 6:  Ajman → Jebel Jais, 180 km  Full Results and Report



Race leader, Primož ROGLIČ (SLO/JUMBO - VISMA)

Start scene in Ajman


Rollout for Stage 1




JUMBO - VISMA is a GC team to reckon with this year



File photo of the finishing 20 km climb to Jebel Jais



Jebel Jais is the highest road in the UAE

Nibali and Valverde



The climb was long but the modest gradient still resulted in a climber bunch sprint


Primož ROGLIČ (SLO/JUMBO - VISMA) wins Stage 6 in 4:15:39 ahead of 2nd Tom DUMOULIN (NED/SUNWEB), 3rd David GAUDU (FRA/GROUPAMA - FDJ)

4th Daniel MARTIN (IRL/UAE TEAM EMIRATES), 5th Alejandro VALVERDE (ESP/MOVISTAR), 6th Wilco KELDERMAN (NED/SUNWEB)

3rd win in 6 stages for Primož ROGLIČ (SLO/JUMBO - VISMA)... a dominating week

The finish scene at Jebel Jais

7th Maximilian SCHACHMANN (GER/BORA - HANSGROHE) and 8th Emanuel BUCHMANN (GER/BORA - HANSGROHE)

Your Stage 6 winner, Primož ROGLIČ (SLO/JUMBO - VISMA)

Race leaderr, Primož ROGLIČ (SLO/JUMBO - VISMA), from day 1 and maintaining or extending his lead every day since: : “It’s always nice to win a race. I fell short [regarding stage wins] before today and I finally won; that’s why I looked happy when I crossed the finishing line. I’m not really a sprinter, so I was afraid to go on the side to pass the other riders immediately, but it was still quite far from the finish and I had some power left, so I could brake and start again. Winning the first race of the year is a big motivation to improve my racing before the Giro d’Italia.”

Stage 7:  Dubai Safari Park → City Walk, 145 km  Full Results and Report



Second of GC, Alejandro Valverde, said: “Most importantly I’ve finished the UAE Tour [despite having fever] but with the stage win and the second place overall, I can be very happy with what we’ve achieved here thanks to the help of my team. Roglic has been very strong, hats off to him and to his team who also did a great job. I hope to keep racing like this for the rest of the year.”

Start scene at Dubai Safari Park

Rollout from Dubai Safari Park

Dubai in the distance



JUMBO - VISMA was in complete control all week

The late unsuccessful break

Sprint finish as expected

Finish scene at City Walk

Sam BENNETT (IRL/BORA - HANSGROHE) wins Stage 7 in 3:17:51 ahead of 2nd Fernando GAVIRIA RENDON (COL/UAE TEAM EMIRATES), 3rd Caleb EWAN (AUS/LOTTO SOUDAL), 4th Alexander KRISTOFF (NOR/UAE TEAM EMIRATES), 5th Elia VIVIANI (ITA/DECEUNINCK - QUICK-STEP)


Sam BENNETT (IRL/BORA - HANSGROHE) was thrilled to beat an elite group of pure sprinters


“Our lead-out train worked perfectly today. The guys supported me the whole day and helped me to save extra energy. On the last sprint stage, I didn’t have good legs in the finale, but today I felt very good. The field is full of top notch sprinters and to pick up a win against these guys is a great achievement. My win today gives me confidence heading into the next races, and I’m excited to see what I can do there.”

Your Stage 7 winner, Sam BENNETT (IRL/BORA - HANSGROHE)

Your GC podium: 2nd Alejandro VALVERDE (ESP/MOVISTAR) + 31s, 1st Primož ROGLIČ (SLO/JUMBO - VISMA) 26:27:29, 3rd David GAUDU (FRA/GROUPAMA - FDJ) + 44s


A dominating performance this week by Primož ROGLIČ (SLO/JUMBO - VISMA) to win the first UAE Tour: “I only started cycling in 2012, I was a ski jumper before. I didn’t feel it went quickly and easily, but it’s been hard for me to get to this level of performance. Before coming here, I was told it’s an easy and quite boring race but it was nothing like that this year. The TTT and Stage 4 to Hatta Dam made it a hard race overall in addition to the uphill finishes. It was full gas every day with wind and sand in the desert, so we’re happy to go home and take some rest. I’m even happier to leave Dubai with this victory in my bag with so many big names in contention. It’s been a huge pleasure to race this inaugural UAE Tour.”

3rd overall and best young rider, David GAUDU (FRA/GROUPAMA - FDJ) + 44s: : “I’m very proud of finishing third in the overall ranking of the UAE Tour and win the White Jersey at the same time. This is my first podium in a WorldTour race. It was very stressful today because of the wind so none of the GC contenders tried to attack. Now my ambitions will be on the up when I’ll get to participate in WorldTour races, but the main goal of the year is to race with Thibaut Pinot and we’ll try to get the best possible result at every race we’ll do together.”

Emu Buchmann ended the UAE Tour in fourth position overall, while team BORA – hansgrohe took out the team classification.