Italian Jonathan Milan won the Monday stage of the first leg of the 'United Arab Emirates' after a tough and fast stage that went through the desert.
Milan, representing the Lead-Trek team, completed 138 kilometers in 3 hours, 31 minutes, and 34 seconds, overtaking Belgian Jasper Philipsen. He was later demoted to 52nd place due to the finish of New Zealander Finn Fisher-Black, who finished third.
Slovenian Tadej Pogacar, winner of the 'Tour de France' in 2021 and 2022, took tenth place, finishing ten seconds behind the winner. The stage took place in the Al-Dhafra region in Abu Dhabi on a direct route, consisting of sandy dunes with some climbs on rough terrain.
After his victory, Milan said: "I was on the limits of my strength. The last 700 meters of the race turned out to be more challenging than we thought, and I have to thank my teammates for their support and for the finish of the last 200 meters in the best way." "After that, like nothing, tomorrow (on Tuesday) I will try to keep the leader's jersey."
The second stage will also take place on Tuesday on the island of Hadhiriyat in Abu Dhabi, extending 12.2 kilometers in the direction against the clock. Top-5 of the first stage:
1. Italian Jonathan Milan (Lead-Trek) - 3:31:34 hours 2. New Zealander Finn Fisher-Black (Red Bull Bora-Hansgrohe) with a gap of 4 seconds 3. Dutch Luand Tabias Andersen (Bikini Post-Ineos) with a gap of 6 seconds 4. Belgian Lennert van Eythfelt (Lotto Soudal) with a gap of 10 seconds 5. Brit Oscar Onley (Bikini Post-Ineos) with a gap of 10 seconds.
