Digging deep! Wiebes left to do it all alone and grinds out third straight UAE Tour Women win

Anyone who thought we would see a different sprint picture in the women was lying to themselves. Lorena Wiebes was unbeatable last year, and started 2026 the same way: by winning the first two stages of the UAE Tour in dominant fashion. The third stage also seemed cut out for her, as it was a billiard sheet of a stage.

Anyone hoping the sprint script in the women’s peloton would suddenly look different was kidding themselves. Wiebes was untouchable last year, and she has started 2026 in exactly the same way: by winning the opening stages of the UAE Tour Women in dominant fashion. Stage 3 looked tailor-made too, with another pancake-flat route on the menu.

The general classification riders were meant to get their day on Sunday, but Marlen Reusser will not be there for the showdown on Jebel Hafeet. The Swiss rider crashed in stage 2; scans showed no fractures, but she still did not start stage 3.

With Reusser absent, the peloton rolled into the penultimate stage and a break of five formed: April Tacey (Hitec Products–Fluid Control), Gaia Segato, Sonia Rossetti (Vini Fantini–BePink), Elisa De Vallier and Sara Luccon (Top Girls Fassa Bortolo). It was never going to stick, and after two hours out front their move was brought back.

Nina Berton (EF Education–Oatly) then jumped away on her own. Monica Castagna (Top Girls Fassa Bortolo) tried to bridge across, but it was a lost cause. Berton was allowed to dangle for a while, but with SD Worx–Protime working steadily, her advantage quickly evaporated and she was caught inside the final five kilometres.

From there, it was up to Wiebes’ teammates to control the run-in, but UAE Team ADQ also committed riders to set up Gillespie. Visma | Lease a Bike moved up as well, and suddenly Wiebes was isolated. It didn’t matter: she launched early and held off a rapidly closing Gillespie. After the line, it was clear how deep Wiebes had to go for this one — not a routine win this time.