UAE Tour 2024: Brave attack rewarded! O'Connor triumphs on the Jebel Jais
Thomas Goldmann
· 21.02.2024
Ben O'Connor has won the first showdown between the favourites in the mountains at the UAE Tour 2024 and claimed his fourth win of the season for Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale. The 2021 Tour de France fourth-placed rider won on the Jebel Jais at an altitude of 1491 metres ahead of Jay Vine (UAE Team Emirates) and Lennert van Eetvelt (Lotto-Dstny).
Vine also took over the overall lead from his team-mate Brandon McNulty, while O'Connor moved up to second place. However, UAE Team Emirates suffered a setback with the retirement of Adam Yates.
Ben O'Connor wins stage 3 of the UAE Tour 2024
"That was amazing! The boys were great today. The second win for me already this year, that's very good. I didn't want to get involved in a sprint at the end," said O'Connor, who had already won the Tour of Murcia on 10 February, in the official winner's interview.
The Australian had broken away from the group of favourites with his team-mate Valentin Paret-Peintre 1300 metres before the finish. "I told him (Valentin Paret-Peintre) to go full gas. He almost drove me off his rear wheel. We then opened up a gap and I tried to bring the advantage to the finish," continued the day's winner.
UAE Tour 2024 - Results: The top 10 of stage 3
- Ben O'Connor (Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale) 4:16:21
- Jay Vine (UAE Team Emirates) +0:05
- Lennert van Eetvelt (Lotto-Dstny) +0:05
- Max Poole (Team dsm-firmenich PostNL) +0:05
- Ilan van Wilder (Soudal - Quick Step) +0:05
- Attila Valter (Visma | Lease a Bike) +0:05
- Matthew Riccitello (Israel-Premier Tech) +0:05
- Pello Bilbao (Bahrain-Victorious) +0:05
- One Rubio (Movistar) +0:05
- Simon Carr (EF Education EasyPost) +0:05
How the 3rd stage of the UAE Tour 2024 went
Two breakaways initially dominated the action: Silvan Dillier (Alpecin-Deceuninck) and Mark Stewart (Team Corratec - Vini Fantini) made their escape. Then things got hectic in the peloton, with windy stacks forming. Team Bora-Hansgrohe, among others, fell behind. But with a show of strength, they managed to catch up with the first group again. The two breakaway riders who were swallowed up by the peloton were the ones who suffered in the chase.
Setback for UAE Team Emirates
After the race had calmed down again, Stewart set off again - this time with Jonas Rickaert (Alpecin-Deceuninck). The calm in the peloton was ended by a crash involving Adam Yates, among others. The top favourite to win the stage race later had to abandon the race - a bitter setback for UAE Team Emirates.
The two escapees were swallowed up by the peloton again and the race entered the final climb. Under the pace dictation of UAE Team Emirates, an elimination race took place there. Occasional attacks by Einer Rubio (Movistar) or Jan Hirt (Soudal - Quick Step) were also countered.
With 1300 metres to go, Valentin Paret-Peintre (Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale) took his team-mate Ben O'Connor in tow and attacked. The Decathlon duo's bold move was rewarded. O'Connor took advantage of his team-mate's start ramp and was able to hold on to a narrow lead over Jay Vine.
Jason Osborne best German
A total of twelve riders in the group around Vine crossed the finish line five seconds behind the day's winner O'Connor. Among them was Jason Osborne (Alpecin-Deceuninck), who was the best German in 13th place. Ben Zwiehoff (Bora-Hansgrohe) was 21st (+0:20), Emanuel Buchmann 43rd (+3:16).
