Feb 25, 2024 Press Conference

LENNERT VAN EETVELT HAS TURNED THE TABLES

The Lotto Dstny rider went solo to take home the Red Jersey at the end of a thrilling stage. O’Connor loses the GC by just 2″. Bilbao completes the podium.

The Red Jersey Ilan Van Wilder has been awarded by Sheikh Sultan bin Tahnoon Al Nahyan, H.E. Dr. Mugheer Khamis al Khaili, Chairman of the Department of the Community Development, and H.E. Aref Al Awani, Secretary General of the Abu Dhabi Sports Council

Jebel Hafeet, 25 February 2024 – The 10.8 kilometres of the Jebel Hafeet climb changed the hierarchies of the UAE Tour 2024, which was decided on the line in favour of Lennert Van Eetvelt. The Belgian rider took the Red Jersey thanks to a spectacular action in the last 2 km of a climb that had seen in the first half Brandon McNulty and Jay Vine, respectively first and third in the general classification, being dropped by the front group. After catching Emanuel Buchmann, lone survivor of today’s breakaway, it was Van Eetvelt who attacked first, followed by the White Jersey Ilan Van Wilder and Michael Storer.

With 1.8 km to the finish, Van Eetvelt went solo and kept pushing until the last metre, relegating the chasing group, led by Bilbao on O’Connor, to 22 seconds. Thanks to the time bonuses, Van Eetvelt won his first career stage race by 2″ over O’Connor and 11″ over Bilbao. In addition to the Red Jersey, the Lotto Dstny rider also took home the White Jersey as best young rider with Tim Merlier in the Green Jersey, Mark Stewart in the Black Jersey, and Lidl-Trek at the top of the teams classification.

The GC podium was awarded by H.E. Ghanem Mobarek Al Ajeri, General Director of the General Authority of the Sports, H.E. Dr. Mugheer Khamis al Khaili, Chairman of the Department of the Community Development, and Sheikh Sultan bin Tahnoon Al Nahyan

GENERAL CLASSIFICATION
1 – Lennert Van Eetvelt (Lotto Dstny)
2 – Ben O’Connor (Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale Team) at 2″
3 – Pello Bilbao (Bahrain Victorious) at 11″

Mr. Ali Al Rashedi, representing International Holding Company, has awarded the stage winner Lennert Van Eetvelt

STAGE RESULTS
1 – Lennert Van Eetvelt (Lotto Dstny), 161km in 3h38’28”, av. speed 43.942 km/h
2 – Pello Bilbao (Bahrain Victorious) at 22″
3 – Ben O’Connor (Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale Team) s.t.

THE OFFICIAL JERSEYS

The leader jerseys of the UAE Tour are provided by ALÉ

Red Jersey, leader of the General Classification, sponsored by International Holding Company – Lennert Van Eetvelt (Lotto Dstny)
Green Jersey, leader of the Points Classification – Tim Merlier (Soudal Quick-Step)
White Jersey, Best Young Rider, sponsored by Nakheel – Lennert Van Eetvelt (Lotto Dstny)
Black Jersey, leader of the Intermediate Sprint Classification, sponsored by Bin Hamoodah Auto – Mark Stewart (Team Corratec – Vini Fantini)

Mr. Ali Saeed bin Thalith, Senior Director Marine Engineering, has awarded the White Jersey Lennert Van Eetvelt

PRESS CONFERENCE
Speaking immediately after being presented with the Red Jersey and the race winner’s trophy on the podium, Lennert Van Eetvelt said: “My plan for today was to finish with no regret and I don’t have any regret now! I looked at race last couple of years, where they went and I noticed the steeper part at 3km to go. That was the last chance to go for GC. My legs were really good today. This is by far my best result. I’ve improved a lot really. It’s a bit crazy that I win the UAE Tour thanks to time bonuses I took in a breakaway on stage 5. It started with a joke with the doctor and it became a nice training ride that gave me 6’’ and now I win the overall by 2’’. It’s crazy to see my name on the list of riders who have won this race after Remco Evenepoel, Tadej Pogacar, Primoz Roglic. I came for a good result on GC, not for winning, so it’s just amazing. My next race Strade Bianche suits me well. I’m confident I can do a good result there too”.

H.E. Dr. Arif Sultan Al Hammadi, Executive Vice President at Khalifa University, with the Green Jersey Tim Merlier

The winner of the Green Jersey Tim Merlier said: “I didn’t expect Lennert Van Eetveld to win the UAE Tour. But we knew that echelons could dictate the scenario of the race and some riders paid the price. As for myself, I’m really happy and proud of what I’ve achieved here with three stage wins and the Green Jersey for the second year in a row. I’d like to come back to the UAE Tour for sure”.

Mr. Ayman Al Bijawy, Director of Sales and Marketing at Bin Hamoodah Auto, with the Black Jersey Mark Stewart

The winner of the Black Jersey Mark Stewart said: “I really enjoyed the UAE Tour so I didn’t want to finish it without enjoying one last breakaway even though I didn’t need to score any more points for the black jersey. I wanted to go up the road and have some fun. With 7’ lead, I knew the dynamics and what was going on behind with lots of wind. But at some point I thought we could go for the stage win. But that was too hard. I’ve made a lot of friends in the bunch this week. To make a breakaway one day is maybe easy but to do for four days with some of the best riders in the world is pretty special”.

Sheikh Sultan bin Tahnoon Al Nahyan has awarded Lidl-Trek, winner of the Teams Classification

STATISTICS

Lennert Van Eetvelt, at 22 years 7 months and 8 days is the second-youngest winner of the UAE Tour, behind Tadej Pogacar (22 years 5 months 6 days in 2021).
Lennert Van Eetvelt won the UAE Tour with just 2 seconds over Ben O’Connor: it’s a new record for the smallest gap at the end of the race, beating the 22” between Tadej Pogacar and Adam Yates in 2022.
Lennart Van Eetvelt is the youngest Belgian winner at the UAE Tour at 22 years 7 months and 8 days. The previous record belonged to Jasper Philipsen (23 years 11 months 18 days in Madinat Zayed in 2022).