Abu Dhabi Tour 2018: Valverde takes mountain stage and GC victory
The 5th and last stage of the 2018 Abu Dhabi Tour ends at Jebel Hafeet. The race ignites at the 10.8 kilometres closing climb at 6.6%. Alejandro Valverde climbs to the stage win and the overall victory. Wilco Kelderman finishes second on GC, Miguel Ángel López rounds out the podium. (Slideshow route/profile)
Results 5th stage 2018 Abu Dhabi Tour
1. Alejandro Valverde (spa)
2. Miguel Ángel López (col) s.t.
3. Julian Alaphilippe (fra) + 0.15
4. Rafal Majka (pol) s.t.
5. Wilco Kelderman (nld) s.t.
6. Davide Formolo (ita) + 0.37
7. Niklas Eg (den) + 0.47
8. Diego Ulissi (ita) + 0.55
9. Rui Costa (por) s.t.
10. Antwan Tolhoek (nld) s.t.
Final GC 2018 Abu Dhabi Tour
1. Alejandro Valverde (spa)
2. Wilco Kelderman (nld) + 0.17
3. Miguel Ángel López (col) + 0.29
4. Julian Alaphilippe (fra) + 0.31
5. Rafal Majka (pol) + 0.45
6. Davide Formolo (ita) + 1.13
7. Diego Ulissi (ita) + 1.18
8. Rui Costa (por) + 1.28
9. Rohan Dennis (aus) + 1.29
10. Emanuel Buchmann (ger) + 1.37
Race report
Shortly after the start a five-rider group goes clear and four riders bridge across. Greipel, Craddock, Trusov, Bonifazio, Bresciani, Barbier, Frison, Henttala and Brändle race to a maximum lead of more than 10 minutes.
At the last climb Craddock is the last remaining attacker upfront, while last year’s runner-up Ilnur Zakarin is dropped at the lower slopes. Leader Dennis is struggling with 6 kms remaining, a little after Formolo strikes out.
Valverde joins Formolo before with López and Alaphilippe hook on, too. Formolo can’t follow the pace at first, but Kelderman bridges across with Majka and Formolo. López heads out on his own with 4 kms to go and is rejoined by Valverde. Kelderman desperately tries to get back with Alaphilippe and Majka on his wheel, but he doesn’t make it.
Valverde edges out López atop Jabel Hafeet, thus taking the overall race from Kelderman with López rounding out the podium in third.
Read also: route 5th stage 2018 Abu Dhabi Tour.
Abu Dhabi Tour 2018 stage 5: Route maps, height profiles, and more
Click on the images to zoom
Alejandro Valverde
Watch the highlights of recent races here:
Related articles Favourites - Abu Dhabi Tour 20 Overview - Abu Dhabi Tour 20 Winners and records - Abu Dhabi Tour Rohan Dennis wins time trial and takes overall lead - Abu Dhabi Tour 20 Bauhaus bests Kittel in millimetres sprint, Viviani still in lead - Abu Dhabi Tour 20 Viviani sprints to victory and overall lead - Abu Dhabi Tour 20 Kristoff wins 1st stage and takes lead - Abu Dhabi Tour 20 Route stage 1: Madinat Zayed – Madinat Zayed - Abu Dhabi Tour 20 Route stage 2: Yas Island – Yas Island - Abu Dhabi Tour 20 Route stage 3: Abu Dhabi - Abu Dhabi - Abu Dhabi Tour 20 Route stage 4: ITT Al Maryah - Abu Dhabi Tour 20 More articles Giro 2023: Cavendish wins in Rome, Roglic seals GC triumph
Giro 2023 Route stage 21: Rome - Rome
Giro d'Italia: Winners and records
Giro 2023: Withdrawals
Giro 2023: The Route
Giro 2023: Riders
Critérium du Dauphiné 2023: The Route
Critérium du Dauphiné 2023: Riders
Critérium du Dauphiné 2023 Route stage 1: Chambon-sur-Lac - Chambon-sur-Lac
Critérium du Dauphiné 2023 Route stage 2: Brassac-les-Mines - La Chaise-Dieu
Critérium du Dauphiné 2023 Route stage 3: Monistrol-sur-Loire - La Coteau
Critérium du Dauphiné 2023 Route stage 4: Cours - Belmont-de-la-Loire
Critérium du Dauphiné 2023 Route stage 5: Cormoranche-sur-Saône – Salins-les-Bains
Critérium du Dauphiné 2023 Route stage 6: Nantua - Crest-Voland
Critérium du Dauphiné 2023 Route stage 7: Porte-de-Savoie - Col de la Croix de Fer
Critérium du Dauphiné 2023 Route stage 8: Le Pont-de-Claix - La Bastille, Grenoble
Tour de Suisse 2023: The Route
Tour de Suisse 2023: Riders
Tour de Suisse 2023 Route stage 1: Einsiedeln - Einsiedeln
Tour de Suisse 2023 Route stage 2: Beromünster - Nottwil
Tour de Suisse 2023 Route stage 3: Tafers - Villars-sur-Ollon
Cycling Calendar 2023
Tour de France 2023: The Route
Tour de France 2023: Riders
Tour de France 2023 Route stage 1: Bilbao - Bilbao
Tour de France 2023 Route stage 2: Vitoria-Gasteiz - San Sebastián
Tour de France 2023 Route stage 3: Amorebieta-Etxano - Bayonne
Tour de France 2023 Route stage 4: Dax - Nogaro
Tour de France 2023 Route stage 5: Pau - Laruns
Tour de France 2023 Route stage 6: Tarbes - Cauterets
Like our Facebook page and stay on top of all pro-race information!
Details start 5th stage
Profile final kilometres
Climb details Jebel Hafeet
Details finish 5th stage
Al Ain and Jebel Hafeet at Google Maps
Route and profile Jebel Hafeet
Climb details Jebel Hafeet in 3D
Jebel Hafeetop at strava.com
