Elisa Longo Borghini soloed to victory in the third stage of the UAE Tour Women, conquering the climb of Jebel Hafeet and becoming the new leader of the race. Silvia Persico finished in second place. It was a great team triumph and a historic day for UAE Team ADQ and the country.
Today’s stage covered 152 km from Al Ain Qasr Al Muwaiji to Jebel Hafeet. The team started with determination, aiming to make a significant impact on the race after the positive performance of the previous day.
The race was characterized by a nervous pace, with the wind influencing the day. In an early attack, Italian champion Elisa Longo Borghini was ready alongside Elynor Backstedt. After closing the gap on a breakaway of three riders, the main group regrouped, and the decisive push occurred in the last 9 km of the final climb.
Silvia Persico did an extraordinary job, setting a steady pace at the front of the group for almost the entire climb, gradually reducing the number of contenders. Just over three kilometers from the finish, Elisa Longo Borghini launched a solo attack that no one could respond to, deciding the race. Impressive was also Silvia Persico’s performance, who managed to stay with the leading group and finish the stage in second place, completing a day of celebration for UAE Team ADQ.
With this victory, Elisa Longo Borghini became the new leader of the UAE Tour Women, leading the General Classification with a 2’09” advantage over teammate Silvia Persico. She also claimed the green jersey of the Points Classification. Lara Gillespie also stood on the podium, holding the black jersey of the Intermediate Sprint Classification.
A few seconds after the finish, stage winner and new Red Jersey, Elisa Longo Borghini, stated:
“We can call it a masterpiece by UAE Team ADQ. We had a clear goal: the victory and the Red Jersey. There was a moment when Silvia [Persico] and I were caught by a group, and Elynor Backstedt brought us back in a second, and the whole team worked to put us in the best position at the bottom of the climb. Then Persico set a steady pace. I felt very comfortable throughout the climb. When I thought it was the right moment, I attacked and went full gas. I really wanted to win. This is our team’s first victory on home soil, and our family lost a friend a few weeks ago. This victory is for him. We also want to win this Tour. Tomorrow will be a beautiful day.”
THE LAST STAGE
Stage 4 | 09/02/2025 | Abu Dhabi Stage
Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies Academy – Abu Dhabi Breakwater | Sprint stage (128 km)
Start: 13:25 – Finish: 16:30 (UAE Time)
Live on discovery+/Eurosport
(Ph. Getty Sport)
