The UAE Tour Women got underway on Thursday with a flat stage, starting and finishing in the city of Dubai. Heading into the day, Team Picnic PostNL had dual ambitions of going for a top stage result in the sprint with fast finisher Charlotte Kool, while also keeping climber Nienke Vinke safe ahead of Saturday’s mountain-top finish.
A steady start to proceedings saw a break eventually go clear and the gap increased dramatically, but the peloton was always in control. A big fight for position ensued when the peloton made a u-turn in the desert and picked up a slight cross-tailwind. Unfortunately there was a big crash in the bunch, which involved lead-out rider Rachele Barbieri, but thankfully she was able to come through it relatively unscathed.
As the kilometres ticked down Vinke and Megan Jastrab helped to contribute to the pace at the head of the bunch, making sure the break was caught inside ten kilometres to go. All attention turned to the fast finale and on the wide roads things were pretty chaotic as multiple teams fought to be at the front going through the last corner. Pfeiffer Georgi brought Kool forward but going through the last corner Georgi got blocked. Kool was able to go around her and pick up a wheel, but it meant when she started her sprint she had to do so from far and try to get a jump on the opposition. Giving it everything, Kool drew up and alongside eventual stage winner Wiebes, but she ultimately had to settle for second place on the day.
