Longo Borghini positioned well for GC after 100-kilometer echelon breakaway, Wiebes secures her second win
Women's CyclingFriday, 07 February 2025 at 18:51
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After yesterday's first stage, in which Lorena Wiebes continued what she had already shown last year, i.e., winning, there was another tricky stage on the schedule today. In a 110-kilometer stage with no elevation gain, the wind played the leading role, and fans enjoyed the wonderful cycling phenomenon: echelons. And who turned out to be the strongest in the end?
Wiebes, for a change.
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The images beforehand said it all: the strong wind made it sandy, and not much later after the start, it was already there: the first echelon. Elisa Longo Borghini and Wiebes, favorites for the GC, were up front when the peloton broke away. Silvia Persico, Juliette Labous, and Pauline Ferrand-Prévot, among others, were in the chase.
Is the battle for the UAE Tour GC already decided?
The other GC favorites were 30 seconds behind but seemed to catch up at 85 kilometers. But that was idle hope. The gap increased again, and several riders in the peloton had to give up their roles. At 70 kilometers, it was over for the peloton. The five-strong breakaway had a lead of nearly three minutes and seemed to have a clear shot at winning the stage.
The pace in the peloton increased behind the leaders. Several riders could not keep up with the pace and had to let up while the peloton gradually moved closer to the leaders. At 50 kilometers before the finish, the peloton, which had thinned out by now, had already taken a minute off the lead.
Read more below!
Lead steadily dwindles, exciting finale follows
Will it be exciting after all? The answer is yes! With 35 kilometers to go, the peloton, which by now consisted of about 20 riders - without Charlotte Kool but with Nienke Veenhoven and Elisa Balsamo - was 1.5 minutes behind the five leaders. At twenty kilometers before the finish, the lead was down to one minute, and there seemed to be a merging between the two groups.
But the chasing group appeared to have already spent their fuel and did not come closer to the leaders in the finale. The red carpet was rolled out for Wiebes because of the five in front. The Dutch rider was the biggest favorite, and it worked out that way. Little happened in the final kilometers, and Wiebes secured her second win. Longo Borghini fared well, gaining over a minute on her rivals heading into tomorrow's queen stage.
Results of second stage UAE Tour
Results powered by FirstCycling.com
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Bram van der PloegEditor-in-chief
Bram van der Ploeg (35) is the proud founder of In de Leiderstrui, IDL Pro Cycling's parent site, launched in 2018. Finally, he could create stories about the sport he had followed since childhood. He is the editor-in-chief on paper, but prefers to be with his recorder next to a rider, a team bus, or in the mud at a cyclocross race. Every year, from February to the end of May, Bram follows the entire Italian cycling season, from the Trofeo Laigueglia to the Giro d'Italia, with the grand finale in October in Lombardy. During that time, he lives in Tuscany, where he has since come to call Italy his 'home'.
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Latest Comments
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- - Can someone explain how ProTeams get Tour invites? If Q5 aren’t automatic, what results do they need—UCI points, one-day wins, or stage race podiums? Confused how that process works.samanthak10-09-2026
- - Love the Edinburgh Grand Départ angle. If ASO is on the fence, a British TT champ in form plus Pidcock makes that wildcard case much stronger. Q5 look less like a ProTeam and more like a budding GC/ Classics hybrid.jennifer1910-09-2026
- - Not sure the piece nails the contract timing. Says “for 2027” but what about 2025–26? Is he staying at Soudal through 2026 even after being told no extension? Sounds a bit contradictory tbh.robert6510-09-2026
- - Huge if true. Hayter to Q5 alongside Pidcock, Wright and Gloag gives them a legit British core. With Glasenberg’s backing they’re clearly aiming at TdF wildcardHope he nails today’s TT after missing the Bilbao opener by09s—that’s been haunting him all Vuelta.tourdeforce910-09-2026
- - Love the honesty about hesitating because of Remco’s messages. Ego flattered but head ruled. That’s grown-up stuff. Vamos Tim, forza UAE!andrewf10-09-2026
- - “Brand team” line threw me. Does he mean title sponsor obligations? Either way, UAE pays the wages—totally get it. Bon courage Tim, allez!tourdeforce910-09-2026
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