‘I don’t expect the best legs’ – Why the UAE Tour climb of Jebel Hafeet comes too soon for Marlen Reusser

After being pipped into second place at last week’s Trofeo Marratxi-Felanitx hilltop finish in Mallorca, Marlen Reusser has arrived at the UAE Tour Women with ambition but little in the way of hope for overall victory.

This year’s race will serve up its usual fare of three flat stages, but if crosswinds don’t appear, the final stage and its climb of Jebel Hafeet will be the decisive day. Finishing 1025m above sea level, the climb is a tough one, averaging a 6.6% gradient over 10.8km. The middle eight kilometres are 8% with ramps of 11%, something which would normally provide Reusser a chance of victory. Not this year, according to Movistar’s Swiss woman.