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Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) sealed his third career title at the UAE Tour after winning the final stage summit finish at Jebel Hafeet with a 7.6km solo move.
The Slovenian was already in the race lead, having triumphed on the mountaintop finish at Jebel Jais earlier in the week. If things were close on stage 3, with Pogačar leading home a group of six riders, he removed all doubt with a dominant display on Sunday.
With Pogačar’s crown already in place, having attacked from a lead group already cut down thanks to the crosswinds earlier in the stage, the remaining podium spots were left to fight over from a chasing pack of strong climbers.
In the end, it was Giulio Ciccone (Lidl-Trek) who took second on the day, 32 seconds down. The Italian outsprinted Pello Bilbao (Bahrain Victorious), who finished a further three seconds adrift of the champion.
The 2025 UAE Tour’s final general classification would reflect the stage finishing order, with Ciccone leaping up to take second overall, 1:14 down. Bilbao ended up with third place, 1:19 back on Pogačar.
“A lot of guys had the last day to do something today. With the crosswinds, it was good to make some chaos in the group and for us GC riders we had to be careful and attentive. It split the first time in the crosswinds. Somehow it worked. At first I didn’t believe it would be cooperative but it went to the finish so it was a good day.
“I wouldn’t have minded to go easy to the climb, but like this, it was pretty good. Florian [Vermeersch] and Rune [Herregodts] in the front…
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