No leading role for Team Visma | Lease a Bike in final stage of unfortunate UAE Tour
The traditional final stage of the UAE Tour, finishing atop Jebel Hafeet, was on the program. In the fast-paced opening phase, Behrens was involved in a crash in the peloton. The 21-year-old German could not continue and had to leave the race.
Meanwhile, the pace remained high. Favorable winds on the flat roads caused echelons to form halfway through the race. The three remaining Team Visma | Lease a Bike riders ended up in the second peloton and were unable to close the gap to the front. Tadej Pogacar claimed both the stage and overall victory.
© Niklas Behrens
Sports director Jesper Mørkøv reflected on a week full of setbacks. “Today was a tough day,” said the Dane. “It’s unfortunate that Niklas crashed out on the final day. We finished this race with only three riders. We came here with high expectations, but Olav Kooij had to leave after the first stage. Soon after, we also lost Julien Vermote and Thomas Gloag. Daniel McLay’s fourth place in the sprint of stage four was a bright spot.”
“Despite everything, Bart Lemmen, Tosh Van der Sande, and Daniel gave it their all today,” Mørkøv continued. “Tosh and Daniel tried to bring the peloton back to the front group, but it proved too difficult. Bart rode a solid final climb, though it wasn’t for the top spots. We can look back on an unlucky week, but our focus is already on the upcoming goals.”
UAE Tour
Stage 7
Result
Rankings
Result
1
Tadej Pogačar
UAE Team Emirates – XRG
03:44:04
2
Giulio Ciccone
Lidl – Trek
+00:00:33
3
Pello Bilbao
Bahrain – Victorious
+00:00:35
29
Bart Lemmen
Team Visma | Lease a Bike
+00:06:38
59
Tosh Van der Sande
Team Visma | Lease a Bike
+00:15:45
–
Niklas Behrens
Team Visma | Lease a Bike
DNF
–
Daniel McLay
Team Visma | Lease a Bike
DNF
Rankings
1
Tadej Pogačar
UAE Team Emirates – XRG
23:08:42
2
Giulio Ciccone
Lidl – Trek
+00:01:14
3
Pello Bilbao
Bahrain – Victorious
+00:01:19
23
Bart Lemmen
Team Visma | Lease a Bike
+00:08:25
55
Tosh Van der Sande
Team Visma | Lease a Bike
+00:30:27
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Subjects
Cycling – World Tour men
Jesper Mørkøv
1
UAE Tour
