Lorena Wiebes wins the Dubai stage of the UAE Women's Tour

Dutchwoman Lorena Wiebes won the first stage (Dubai stage) of the opening of the second edition of the Emirates Women's Tour 2024, the only race in the Middle East, organized by the Abu Dhabi Sports Council, and held in 4 stages until February 11, with the participation of an elite group of international cycling champions.
Webis won the title of the stage that was held in Dubai, over a distance of 122 km, and started from the Dubai Flower Garden (Miracle Garden), passing through the most prominent landmarks of the Emirate of Dubai, until the finish line in Dubai Harbour.
Wipes from the Dutch SDWorks Protime team covered the race distance in 02:59:11 hours, Italian Rachel Barbieri from the DF Firemensch team came in second place, and Italian Chiara Consone from the Emirates Holding team came in third place.
The winners were crowned with T-shirts for the first stage, Aref Al Awani, Secretary-General of the Abu Dhabi Sports Council, Saeed Hareb, Secretary-General of the Abu Dhabi Sports Council, Suhail Al-Arifi, Executive Director of the Events Sector at the Abu Dhabi Sports Council, Engineer Basil Ibrahim, Director of the Right of Way Department, Brigadier Juma bin Suwaidan, Deputy Director of the General Traffic Department in The Emirate of Dubai, Bruno De Souza, CEO of Operations in Dubai and the Northern Emirates at Burjeel Holding, Kifah Sbitan, Vice President of Complexes Management at Aldar, were also honored by the Abu Dhabi Police General Headquarters, the Dubai Roads and Transport Authority, the Dubai Sports Council, the Dubai Miracle Garden, and the Dubai Municipality. , Dubai Harbour.
Webis - who lived up to expectations as the first candidate to win the first stage - won the red jersey sponsored by Al Ain Water as the overall leader of the race, and the green jersey sponsored by Tadweer as the points leader, with 25 points, 4 points ahead of Rachel Barbieri, and 8 points ahead of Cusconi from Emirates Holding Team, which ranked third in the points standings with 12 points.
The Kazakh Yanina Kuskova from the Tashkent City team shined during the first stage, and she gave a wonderful performance despite the slight injury she suffered in her left hand as a result of a fall accident during the race. Kuskova received the white shirt sponsored by Burjeel Holding for the best young female competitor under 23 years of age, in addition to the black shirt sponsored by Burjeel Holding. Aldar is at the top of the medium speed stage.
The first stage was characterized by speed on the part of the contestants, reaching an average of 40 kilometers per hour, including two mass falls as a result of overcrowding, as a large number of female contestants fell 13 kilometers before the finish line, but it did not affect the course of the race that was completed until its end.
Wipes said after winning the Dubai stage: “I regained the feeling of victory here in Dubai after missing it for 151 days. I am happy to win the first stage of the UAE Women’s Tour. I thank my teammates, especially Lottie Kubicki, who opened the way for me to pass the last meters and cross the finish line.”
Whipps confirmed that Dubai is a wonderful city and that she knows it well, and she was keen to come to “Danat Al Dunya” some time ago to prepare to participate in the Emirates Women’s Tour.
She added: “We made a plan in the team to stay on the right side of the race in the last two kilometers, and we succeeded in implementing our tactic, despite the fall that occurred during the race due to crowding, we were able to maintain our position in a good place at the front of the race. We will see what the wind and its speed will be like during the race.” The second stage is tomorrow, which will not be easy.”
In turn, Kuskova said that she planned to score medium speed points from the beginning, and she was able to achieve her eight points, which contributed to her obtaining the black and white jerseys.
The second stage (Cities) is 113 km long
Lorena Whipps wears the red jersey during the second stage (Modon Stage), which takes place on Friday, and starts from Bab Al-Nujoum from the port and reaches Madinat Zayed in Al Dhafra, where the stage distance is 113 km, and the team’s presentation begins from 11:55 in the morning until 13:10 in the afternoon. Noon and the start will be at 1:15 p.m
Saeed Hareb: Mohammed bin Rashid’s follow-up to the Tawaf is the most beautiful form of support for sports
His Excellency Saeed Hareb, Secretary-General of the Dubai Sports Council, extended his highest thanks and gratitude to His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, may God protect him, for His Highness’s kindness in following part of the Dubai stage within the Emirates Women’s Tour.
Hareb said: “The presence and follow-up of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, may God protect him, for the race, accompanied by His Highness Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, First Deputy Ruler of Dubai, confirms His Highness’s keenness to support sports in general and this The race in particular, and the most beautiful form of support and care, is represented by His Highness following the race in the heart of the event, and it also gives us and the participants a great motivation for excellence and success and presenting the most wonderful forms of competition and organization that rises to the level of this great support.”
Hareb praised the level of participation in the Tour, and added: “The first stage of the Tour, which spanned 122 kilometers from the Miracle Garden to Dubai Harbor and various areas in between, witnessed a wonderful performance and great competition from female competitors from different teams and nationalities, and confirmed the Tour’s advanced position among international races.” .