Year-old Einer Rubio surprises favorites in UAE Tour, Evenepoel new leader | Cycling

Feb 22, 2023 at 2:09 PMUpdate: 8 minutes ago

Einer Rubio won the third stage of the UAE Tour on Wednesday. The Colombian from Movistar gave himself the best gift imaginable on his 25th birthday with his first World Tour victory. The red leader’s jersey went to Remco Evenepoel.

After a sprint on Monday and a team time trial on Tuesday, it was time to climb in the third stage. The Jebel Jais appeared 20 kilometers from the finish; a climb with an average gradient of 5.

The birthday boy Rubio wanted to give himself a nice present and went on the attack 8 kilometers before the finish. The Colombian built up a lead of one minute and surprisingly stayed out of the pack of the peloton, in which favorites Evenepoel and Adam Yates rode. Behind Rubio, the favorites watched the cat out of the tree.

Lucas Plapp was still in the red with a few hundredths ahead on Wednesday, but the 22-year-old Australian from INEOS Grenadiers has to give up his jersey to Evenepoel. The Belgian world champion crossed the line second. He now leads the standings by seven seconds ahead of Plapp. Spaniard Pello Bilbao completes the provisional podium eleven seconds behind Evenepoel.

With his victory, Rubio joins an illustrious list with Tadej Pogacar, Jonas Vingegaard and Primoz Roglic. They crossed the line first on the Jebel Jais in previous editions of the UAE Tour.

The UAE Tour lasts until Sunday. The next stages are on the wish list of the sprinters, the final stage again ends uphill.

Winners previous editions UAE Tour

2019: Primoz Roglic 2020: Adam Yates 2021: Tadej Pogacar 2022: Tadej Pogacar

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