Lorena Wiebes strikes again in a record-breaking stage (48.407 km/h). Elisa Longo Borghini gains ground ahead of the stage finish of Jebel Hafeet

The Italian champion triumphs on Jebel Hafeet for the second time in three years, leading a spectacular 1-2 finish for UAE Team ADQ with Silvia Persico in second. Tomorrow grand finale in Abu Dhabi

Elisa Longo Borghini delivered a masterclass performance on Stage 3 of the UAE Tour Women, claiming victory atop Jebel Hafeet and almost securing the final victory. The reigning Giro d’Italia Women champion launched her decisive attack with 3.2 km to the finish, dropping all her rivals with a dominant display. Silvia Persico played a crucial support role and finished second, 35” behind, followed by Kimberley Le Court. Further back, Monica Trinca Colonel, Barbara Malcotti, and new White Jersey leader Antonia Niedermaier completed the top positions. Sprint specialist Lorena Wiebes, winner of the first two stages, lost contact with the lead group with just over 7 km to go but will have a chance to shine again in tomorrow’s fast-paced finale in Abu Dhabi.

H.E. Matar Suhail Al Yabhouni - Chairman of the Board of Directors in the Abu Dhabi Sporting Club - and Dr. Aisha Ali Ahmed Abdulla Almahri - CEO at Al Ain Region - awarded Elisa Longo Borghini with the Red Jersey 

GENERAL CLASSIFICATION
1 - Elisa Longo Borghini (UAE Team ADQ)
2 - Silvia Persico (UAE Team ADQ) at 2'09"
3 - Kimberley (Le Court) Pienaar (AG Insurance - Soudal Team) at 2'11"

H.E. Aref Al Awani - General Secretary of Abu Dhabi Sports Council - Lieutenant General Ahmed Abdullah Al Sharifi, Lieutenant General Saeed Al Hasani from Al Ain Police, and H.E. Dr. Fahad Al Neyadi - Executive Director at Ruler's Representative of the Court in Al Ain Region - awarded stage winner Elisa Longo Borghini

STAGE RESULTS
1 - Elisa Longo Borghini (UAE Team ADQ), 152km in 3h56’31”, average speed 38.559 km/h
2 - Silvia Persico (UAE Team ADQ) at 35"
3 - Kimberley (Le Court) Pienaar (AG Insurance - Soudal Team) s.t.

THE OFFICIAL JERSEYS

The leader jerseys of the UAE Tour Women are provided by ALÉ

·       Red Jersey, leader of the General Classification, sponsored by International Holding Company: IHC - Elisa Longo Borghini (UAE Team ADQ)

·       Green Jersey, leader of the Points Classification, sponsored by MODON - Elisa Longo Borghini (UAE Team ADQ) - worn by Karlijn Swinkels (UAE Team ADQ)

·       White Jersey, Best Young Rider, sponsored by TAQA - Antonia Niedermaier (CANYON//SRAM Zondacrypto)

·       Black Jersey, leader of the Intermediate Sprint Classification, sponsored by ALDAR - Lara Gillespie (UAE Team ADQ)

PRESS CONFERENCE

Elisa Longo Borghini was awarded the Green Jersey by Mrs. Shaikha Al Zaabi - Communication Section Head of Abu Dhabi Sports Council - and Mr. Christian Ubbiali - Representative of MODON

Speaking in the press conference, the stage winner and new Red Jersey Elisa Longo Borghini said: "“Silvia Persico was the key rider of our tactic today but the whole team did a great job, especially in the echelons earlier on. With 3km to go, I felt like it was time to give it a go. Once I saw a gap I took my rhythm. I’m pretty stocked. It’s amazing. This is my first race for my new team. There’s a country behind us. We feel very proud. Since we took time on the other GC riders yesterday, we didn’t need to destroy anybody today. We just had to defend our position. I felt comfortable. We’ll focus mainly on the Red Jersey tomorrow".

Antonia Niedermaier was awarded the White Jersey by H.E. D. Matar Al Darmaki - Executive Director at Ruler's Representative of the Court in Al Ain Region - and Mr. Samer Dandashi - Representative of Bin Hamooda Motors

The White Jersey Antonia Niedermaier said: "I’m quite happy with my performance. It could have been better but it still feel the consequences of the big crash of day 1 in my body. Yesterday it was also a hard race. Today I had a strong team around me. I tried my best. It’s my first race of the year, so it was hard to know where I stood. UAE Team ADQ was super strong so I tried to stay close to them. I was happy that they let me stay quite a while on their wheels. It was a nice race. The White Jersey was a little bit in my mind but I just tried to do my best performance. Hopefully tomorrow I’ll stand on the final podium as the best young rider".

Lara Gillespie was awarded the Black Jersey by Mr. Fayez Al Katheeri - Facilities Department Director in Abu Dhabi in Abu Dhabi Sports Council - Mr. Sultan Al Memari - Representative of ALDAR 

The Black Jersey Lara Gillespie said: "The UAE Tour is definitely the highest level I’ve competed in so far and it’s so exciting to support a rider like Elisa [Longo Borghini]. It was really special for me to race with the green jersey today. I’m just proud of the way we raced overall as a team. I went for the intermediate sprints because we didn’t want to lose any bonus second. It was tactical against Elisa’s competitors. It wasn’t with the aim of taking the black jersey myself but I’m happy to have it. Tomorrow, hopefully it'll end up in a bunch sprint and I hope to be up there".

STATISTICS

·       Second win at the UAE Tour Women for Elisa Longo Borghini, queen of Jebel Hafeet as she had already won there two years ago. She is the only Italian winner in this race.

·       Elisa Longo Borghini recorded her 48th pro win, the first in 126 days (Giro dell’Emilia last year).

·       Longo Borghini (1st), Silvia Persico (2nd), Monica Trinca Colonel (4th), Barbara Malcotti (5th): Italy is the first country with 4 riders in the top-5 of a UAE Tour Women stage.

·       Kimberley Le Court recorded her first top-3 at the UAE Tour Women, making Mauritius the 11th country with a top-3 finish in this race.

TOMORROW'S STAGE
STAGE 4, ABU DHABI FATIMA BINT MUBARAK LADIES SPORTS ACADEMY-ABU DHABI BREAKWATER, 128 KM - FBMA STAGE 

The route

A stage around the city of Abu Dhabi. Starting at the Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies Academy, the first part of the route heads towards Khalifa City and then on to Yas Marina. It returns to Abu Dhabi City and passes over Saadiyat Island and on Al Maryah Island, Al Reem Island and Yifenah Island. It then passes through Qasr Al Hosn, arriving at Abu Dhabi Breakwater for a sprint finish.

Final kilometres

The last 5 km are on a wide road with large half-curves leading to