World and Vuelta a Espana champion Remco Evenepoel began his season on a high with success in the UAE Tour after following home Adam Yates in Sunday’s finish. British rider Yates went all out, attacking the 6 mile-long climb up Jebel Hafeet just over a mile from the line. Quick-Step’s Evenepoel was initially caught out by the UAE Team leader’s tactic but the Belgian managed to contain the damage having started the day with a slender nine-second cushion in the general classification. He crossed the line 10 seconds behind Yates to take the race win having led since Tuesday’s time-trial. Ineos Grenadier’s 22-year-old Australian rider Luke Plapp was second overall. He came in sixth on the stage but his result deprived Yates of second on the overall podium by just one second. Geoffrey Bouchard rode to third in the 95 mile final stage.

2023 UAE TOUR STAGE 7 RESULTS

1	YATES Adam	UAE Team Emirates	3:29:42
2	EVENEPOEL Remco	Soudal – Quick Step	0:10
3	BOUCHARD Geoffrey	AG2R Citroën Team	0:42
4	KUSS Sepp	Jumbo-Visma	0:47
5	BILBAO Pello	Bahrain – Victorious	0:54
6	PLAPP Luke	INEOS Grenadiers	0:54
7	POELS Wout	Bahrain – Victorious	1:16
8	TIBERI Antonio	Trek – Segafredo	1:16
9	ZWIEHOFF Ben	BORA – hansgrohe	1:25
10	STORER Michael	Groupama – FDJ	1:25

UAE TOUR OVERALL STANDINGS

1	EVENEPOEL Remco	Soudal – Quick Step	23:25:26
2	PLAPP Luke	INEOS Grenadiers	0:59
3	YATES Adam	UAE Team Emirates	1:00
4	BILBAO Pello	Bahrain – Victorious	1:03
5	KUSS Sepp	Jumbo-Visma	2:06
6	POELS Wout	Bahrain – Victorious	2:18
7	TIBERI Antonio	Trek – Segafredo	2:33
8	ZWIEHOFF Ben	BORA – hansgrohe	2:38
9	BUCHMANN Emanuel	BORA – hansgrohe	2:38
10	VANHOUCKE Harm	Team DSM	2:40

 

RBA/AFP Photos: Sprint Cycling