The opening stage of the UAE Tour 2025 was taken by Jonathan Milan of Lidl-Trek ahead of Jasper Philipsen of Alpecin-Deceuninck in a brutal uphill sprint to the line in Liwa.
The race began with a stage that was very difficult to predict with a lumpy stage in the dunes around Liwa with a short 138km stage. The riders took on changeable weather with some speckles of rain to begin with followed by sunshine.
Three riders went up the road right at the start of the stage which immediately saw the formation of the breakaway. Two VF Group-Bardiani CSF-Faizane riders, Federico Biagini and Manuele Tarozzi, as well as Carlos Samudio of Solution Tech-Vini Fantini. They had a maximum gap of just over three minutes.
The stage started off on an arrow straight and flat towards Liwa. However, the race went into the sand dunes and a cycling specific road that tackled the hilly terrain for two laps.
The race then headed to Liwa for a very chaotic and steep final kick to the line with the pure sprinters going up against Pogačar as well as some puncheurs. But, it was Milan who managed to power to victory and the leader’s jersey.
By admin
