Einer Rubio has taken little steps forward in recent seasons, but always confirming his huge potential as a climber in emblematic events such as the Giro d’Italia. This Thursday, on the occasion of the third stage of the UAE Tour, shone among several of the great cycling stars to celebrate his 25th birthday in style: first professional win at the top of Jebel Jais. The Colombian also did it in a big way, with an attack with more than 10 km to go to crown himself solo and give the Movistar his sixth victory of the season. Among the favourites, null combat, with a Remco Evenepoel who only accelerated in the last meters to enter second and be the new leader thanks to the bonus.
The day began with unexpected news: Jay Vine was not starting. The Australian, recent winner of the Tour Down Under and the UAE team’s second asset in this race, dropped out due to a knee injury that had been dragging on for days. “It was decided to withdraw him from the test as a precautionary measure to give him time to recover,” stated the Emirates squad in an official statement. Adam Yates was left without his right hand for the assault on the general in a Jebel Jais that stood as the only mountainous difficulty of the stage. The peloton consented to a break from the beginning that came to flirt with the 6-minute rent, which helped Oier Lazkano to be the new virtual leader.
In the approach to the start of the summit, the Movistar rider released what until then had been his escape companions (Planckaert, Lucca and Magli) to speed up his chances of success alone. It remained an anecdote. He Bahrain and UAE rhythm it was too much. Now without a break, Movistar decided to be the first to make a move 10.5 km from the finish line. And he didn’t need to hit twice… Taking advantage of the general stoppage, Albert Torres acted as a ‘bridge’ for Einer Rubio for the Colombian to walk alone seconds later. His income came to the minute, the moment in which the alarms of the great favorites went off. Remco put all his available domestiques to work, but when they finished his work, the Belgian kept the gunpowder just like Yates, Bilbao (now 3rd overall), Kuss and the rest of ‘roosters’.
“First pro win! These past years I went through many things that hurt me a lot. Now I’m in great shape. My team has brought me like a king in the ascension. I have arrived at the foot of the port and I wanted to try from below, I came with a lot of strength. In the last kilometers I always had the uncertainty that they were coming for me, but I had strength, I held on very well and it gave me the chance to win. Now we will continue for right path, working hard to maintain this line. Today is also my birthday! What a greater gift than this…”, declared an emotional Einer at the end of the stage. Movistar, after the successes of Ruben Guerreiro in the Saudi Tour and Matteo Jorgenson in Oman, continues to shine in the Middle East.
Results of the 3rd stage
1st Einer Rubio (Movistar) – 4h 51:24
2nd Remco Evenepoel (Quick-Step) – at 14″
3rd Adam Yates (UAE) – 15″
General of the 5th UAE Tour
1º Remco Evenepoel (Quick-Step) – 8h 27:22
2nd Luke Plapp (Ineos) – at 7″
3rd bilbao hair (Bahrain) – 11″
8th Einer Rubio (Movistar) – 1:11
10th Adam Yates (UAE) – 1:12
