With a sprint stage and a time trial behind them, today the climbers got a chance to test themselves on the now traditional finish climb of Jebel Hafeet and its 10 kilometre long slope with seven percent gradients. There was an air of trepidation though as the bunch left the start line and rolled out for the stage, with another day of potential crosswind threats out in the desert.
The opening 70 kilometres were into a headwind, with a two-rider breakaway soldiering on and building up an advantage that reached almost seven minutes at one point. The gap soon started to fall as the peloton entered the second half of the stage and a change of direction that loomed in the distance, with riders fighting for position before the potential crosswinds. Yet, nothing materialised and the bunch remained together as they approached Jebel Hafeet, eventually catching the breakaway on its lower slopes. The team’s sprint group did a good job of protecting the team’s trio of climbers – Florian Stork, Mark Donovan and Thymen Arensman – keeping them safe and positioning them well going onto the climb.
An infernal pace was set at the head of the race and riders dropped from the peloton in their droves as the searing UAE heat took its toll on many. Stork was the last Team DSM rider in the bunch, impressing many as he dug deep and moved past those going backwards. Producing a stellar ride, Stork fought all the way to the line with some elite climbers, claiming a brilliant seventh place for the team at the finish; his first ever World Tour top ten.
Photo Credit: Cor Vos
Pos. | Rider | Team | Time | Points |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | POGAČAR Tadej | UAE-Team Emirates | 3:58:35 | 40 |
2 | YATES Adam | INEOS Grenadiers | ,, | 15 |
3 | HIGUITA Sergio | EF Education - Nippo | 0:48 | 6 |
7 | STORK Florian | Team DSM | 0:54 | - |
46 | DONOVAN Mark | Team DSM | 5:16 | - |
49 | ARENSMAN Thymen | Team DSM | 6:56 | - |
63 | ARNDT Nikias | Team DSM | 10:37 | - |
109 | KRAGH ANDERSEN Asbjørn | Team DSM | 16:05 | - |
115 | DAINESE Alberto | Team DSM | ,, | - |
130 | BOL Cees | Team DSM | 19:55 | - |