UAE Tour 2024: Van Eetvelt triumphs at Jebel Hafeet and becomes overall winner

On the 161-kilometre route from Bait Mohammed Bin Khalifa to Jebel Hafeet, the German Emanuel Buchmann (Bora-Hansgrohe) rode ahead for a long time, but was then caught by the group of favourites three kilometres before the finish. Shortly before the finish, only Lennert van Eetvelt (Lotto-Dstny) was able to break away decisively from this group, crossing the finish line as a soloist and thus also celebrating the overall victory of the UAE Tour 2024. He finished 22 seconds behind Pello Bilbao (Bahrain-Victorious) and Ben O'Connor (Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale) in second and third place.

No one can counter van Eetvelt's attack

With 2.3 kilometres to go, three riders were able to break away from a group of nine favourites around Ben O'Connor and Pello Bilbao: Michael Storrer, Ilan van Wilder and Lennert van Eetvelt managed to put a small gap between themselves and their rivals. With 1.8 kilometres to go, it was Lennert van Eetvelt who was able to open up a small gap with an attack. The 22-year-old Belgian was then unstoppable: He was able to extend the gap to his pursuers once again thanks to powerful kicks and in the end saved 22 seconds ahead of Pello Bilbao and Ben O'Connor, among others. This also puts him at the top of the overall standings, beating the Australian O'Connor by two seconds.

"I can't believe it! Everyone told me this morning that I should go all-in and win the overall title. I had the goal in my head and I can't believe I actually did it." - Lennert van Eetvelt in the winner interview

>> Results of the UAE Tour 2024 at a glance

UAE Tour 2024 - Results: The top 10 of stage 7

1. Lennert van Eetvelt (Lotto-Dstny) 3:38:28
2. Pello Bilbao (Bahrain-Victoious) +0:22
3. Ben O'Connor (Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale) +0:22
4. Michael Storer (Tudor Pro Cycling Team) +0:22
5. Attila Valter (Visma | Lease a Bike) +0:22
6. Carlos Verona (Lidl-Trek) +0:22
7. Ilan Van Wilder (Soudal - Quick Step) +0:27
8. Brandon Smith Rivera (Ineos Grenadiers) +0:38
9. One Rubio (Movistar) +0:38
10. Bart Lemmen (Visma | Lease a Bike) +0:47

UAE Tour 2024 - Results: The overall standings

1. Lennert van Eetvelt (Lotto-Dstny) 22:31:18
2. Ben O'Connor (Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale) +0:02
3. Pello Bilbao (Bahrain-Victorious) +0:11
4. Ilan van Wilder (Soudal - Quick Step) +0:21
5. Attila Valter (Visma | Lease a Bike) +0:34
6. Michael Storrer (Tudor Pro Cycling Team) +0:36
7. Max Poole (Team dsm-firmenich PostNL) +0:55
8. Brandon Smith Rivera (Ineos Grenadiers) +1:00
9. Carlos Verona (Lidl-Trek) +1:09
10. Bart Lemmen (Visma | Lease a Bike) +1:13

>> All stages of the UAE Tour 2024 at a glance

How the 7th stage of the UAE Tour 2024 went

The first attacks came immediately after the start of the race - four riders made it into the leading group of the day: Silvan Dillier, Jonas Rickaert (both Alpecin-Deceuninck), Mark Stewart (Team Corratec - Vini Fantini) and Emanuel Buchmann (Bora-Hansgrohe) succeeded in this endeavour.

>> Buchmann out of Bora-Hansgrohe? A team expresses interest

Big lead for the runaways

The four riders harmonised well and the peloton took it easy. The breakaway's lead quickly grew - they had a maximum lead of over eight minutes. With 75 kilometres to go, the peloton stepped up the pace and the breakaway's lead gradually dwindled.

Due to the fast pace, the flat terrain and the crosswinds, the peloton was shaken up as a result. However, chaos was avoided and the peloton was back together with 35 kilometres to go and the gap to the breakaway around Buchmann had melted to under two minutes.

Buchmann tries his luck as a soloist - UAE Team Emirates in trouble

At the foot of the final climb, the Jebel Hafeet, the breakaway riders ran out of energy. Only Buchmann was able to keep up the pace and set off as a soloist ten kilometres before the finish. A short time later, UAE Team Emirates found itself in trouble: first the co-favourite Brandon McNulty lost the connection to the peloton. Shortly afterwards, it was the overall leader Jay Vine who was also unable to keep up with the group of favourites and had to bury his hopes of overall victory.

Buchmann was then overtaken by the chasers 3 kilometres before the finish. A short time later, three riders were able to break away: Lennert van Eetvelt, Michael Storer and Ilan van Wilder. The former was able to break away from his rivals with an attack and from then on rode alone in front. As none of his rivals were able to respond, van Eetvelt gradually extended his lead and eventually crossed the finish line 22 seconds ahead. This victory meant not only the stage win for the young Belgian, but also the overall victory of the tour.