Elisa Longo Borghini underlined her status as the queen of the mountain with an impressive win at Jebel Hafeet which moved her into the overall lead at the UAE Tour Women on Saturday.
The Italian broke away from the pack to lead a fantastic one-two finish for the UAE Team ADQ in the 158-kilometre penultimate stage of the race from Al Ain Qasr Al Muwaiji to Jebel Hafeet.
Borghini, 33, went out on her own in the final three kilometres to cross the finishing line in 3 hours 56 minutes and 31 seconds, 35 seconds ahead of teammate and countrywoman Silvia Persico, who led the chasing pack to take second.
Kimberley Le Court of AG Insurance-Soudal joined the two UAE Team ADQ riders on the podium, followed by Italians Monica Trinca Colonel (Canyon-SRAM) and Barbara Malcotti (Human Powered health) in fourth and fifth, respectively.
To cap a memorable day for UAE Team ADQ, Dutch rider Karlin Karlijn Swinkels also has a top-five slot in the overall standings.
Borghni who took the lead from winner of the first two stages, Lorena Wiebes (SD Worx – Protime) hailed the team's efforts.
“We can really call it a masterpiece from Team ADQ,” said Borghini, who won the inaugural event in 2023 while racing for Trek–Segafredo.
“Today we had a clear goal, and it was the victory and the red jersey. All the team did amazing.”
Borghini put herself in a strong position by getting in the front echelon of yesterday’s crosswind-affected stage, Band she lived up to the top billing to take the overall lead at the mountain stage.
“There was a moment when Siliva and I were caught out of the main echelon,” she added.
“[Elynor] Backstedt brought us back within a second. Then the whole team did a great job to position us in the best position possible into the climb. After that, Persico just rode at a good tempo.”
Persico set the early pace to the climb at Jebel Hafeet that left the group of leading GC contenders down to just nine riders, distancing overall leader Wiebes and rivals Juliette Labous (FDJ-SUEZ) and Pauline Ferrand-Prevot (Visma-Lease a Bike).
“I felt very comfortable the whole climb. When I felt like it was the right time, I just attacked,” Borghini said on her decision to breakaway from the pack.
“This was a crazy day. I really wanted to win my first victory for the team. I wanted us to win because a few weeks ago my family lost a friend, and that’s for him. We are pretty happy with the entire performance from Team UAE ADQ.”
Going into the final stage on Sunday and with a 2-09 lead on GC over her teammate Persico in second and 2-11 over Le Court in third, Borghini should be able to seal overall victory in the 128km flat route concluding at the Abu Dhabi Breakwater.
“For sure, we want to win this Tour and try to defend the Red Jersey until the very end of the race. It’s going to be a nice day tomorrow!” she added.
Results of stage 3:
1. Elisa Longo Borghini (UAE Team ADQ) 3 hrs 56 min 31 sec
2. Silvia Persico (UAE Team ADQ) + 35
3. Kimberely Le Court (AG Insurance-Soudal) + 35
4. Monica Trinca Colonel (Liv AlUla Jayco) + 38
5. Barbara Malcotti (Human Powered Health) + 38
General classification:
1. Elisa Longo Borghini (UAE Team ADQ) 10 hrs 29 min 11 sec
2. Silvia Persico (UAE Team ADQ) 10:13:38
3. Kimberley Le Court (AG Insurance-Soudal) 10:13:40
4. Monica Trinca Colonel (Liv-Alula-Jayco) 10:13:47
5. Karlijn Swinkels (UAE Team ADQ) 10:14:31
The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
Price, base / as tested: Dh182,178
Engine: 3.7-litre V6
Power: 350hp @ 7,400rpm
Torque: 374Nm @ 5,200rpm
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
Fuel consumption, combined: 10.5L / 100km
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre flat-six
Torque: 450Nm at 6,100rpm
Transmission: 7-speed PDK auto or 6-speed manual
Fuel economy, combined: 13.8L/100km
On sale: Available to order now
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UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
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Key features of new policy
Pupils to learn coding and other vocational skills from Grade 6
Exams to test critical thinking and application of knowledge
A new National Assessment Centre, PARAKH (Performance, Assessment, Review and Analysis for Holistic Development) will form the standard for schools
Schools to implement online system to encouraging transparency and accountability
'Peninsula'
Stars: Gang Dong-won, Lee Jung-hyun, Lee Ra
Director: Yeon Sang-ho
Rating: 2/5
MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW
Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman
Director: Jesse Armstrong
Rating: 3.5/5
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Zayed Sustainability Prize
Zayed Sustainability Prize
Porsche Macan T: The Specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cyl turbo
Power: 265hp from 5,000-6,500rpm
Torque: 400Nm from 1,800-4,500rpm
Transmission: 7-speed dual-clutch auto
Speed: 0-100kph in 6.2sec
Top speed: 232kph
Fuel consumption: 10.7L/100km
On sale: May or June
Price: From Dh259,900
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Match info
Deccan Gladiators 87-8
Asif Khan 25, Dwayne Bravo 2-16
Maratha Arabians 89-2
Chadwick Walton 51 not out
Arabians won the final by eight wickets
The specs
Engine: Four electric motors, one at each wheel
Power: 579hp
Torque: 859Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh825,900
On sale: Now
COMPANY PROFILE
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Total funding: Self funded
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Founders: Ines Mena, Claudia Ribas, Simona Agolini, Nourhan Hassan and Therese Hundt
Date started: January 2017, app launched November 2017
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Private/Retail/Leisure
Number of Employees: 18 employees, including full-time and flexible workers
Funding stage and size: Seed round completed Q4 2019 - $1m raised
Funders: Oman Technology Fund, 500 Startups, Vision Ventures, Seedstars, Mindshift Capital, Delta Partners Ventures, with support from the OQAL Angel Investor Network and UAE Business Angels
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Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
The burning issue
The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.
Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on
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if you go
The flights
Etihad and Emirates fly direct from the UAE to Seoul from Dh3,775 return, including taxes
The package
Ski Safari offers a seven-night ski package to Korea, including five nights at the Dragon Valley Hotel in Yongpyong and two nights at Seoul CenterMark hotel, from £720 (Dh3,488) per person, including transfers, based on two travelling in January
The info
Visit www.gokorea.co.uk
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The five pillars of Islam
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About Karol Nawrocki
• Supports military aid for Ukraine, unlike other eurosceptic leaders, but he will oppose its membership in western alliances.
• A nationalist, his campaign slogan was Poland First. "Let's help others, but let's take care of our own citizens first," he said on social media in April.
• Cultivates tough-guy image, posting videos of himself at shooting ranges and in boxing rings.
• Met Donald Trump at the White House and received his backing.
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