Tadej Pogačar delivered a commanding performance on Jebel Hafeet, winning stage 7 of the UAE Tour with a solo attack and securing his third overall title at the race. The Slovenian world champion made his move 7.6km from the finish, distancing Giulio Ciccone and Pello Bilbao, who rounded out the podium both on the stage and in the final general classification.
The 176km stage from Al Ain Hazza Bin Zayed Stadium to Jebel Hafeet was always going to be decisive, with 166km of flat desert roads leading to the final 10.9km climb at an average gradient of 6.7%. The early fight for the breakaway was hard-fought, with multiple attacks before a group of nine riders managed to establish a gap. Among them were Bruno Armirail, Ayco Bastiaens and Đorđe Đurić, alongside teammates from various ProTeams.
Photo Credit: Sprint Cycling AgencyThe peloton, however, wasn’t in the mood to let them go easily. Crosswinds once again played a key role, splitting the bunch well before the climb. A reduced front group of around 40 riders formed with all the major general classification contenders making the cut, while others—including Felix Gall and defending champion Lennert Van Eetvelt—found themselves caught out and unable to regain contact.
The breakaway’s hopes were short-lived as the GC teams pushed on, bringing them back inside the final 50km. As the race hit the base of Jebel Hafeet, UAE Team Emirates controlled the pace, with Florian Vermeersch and Rune Herregodts setting up Pogačar.
The Slovenian made his decisive move at 7.6km to go, just after Herregodts had finished his work. Only Ciccone and Oscar Onley managed to stay with him momentarily, but it was a losing battle. Pogačar rode the final kilometres alone, crossing the line 32 seconds ahead of Ciccone, who held off Bilbao by three seconds to take second place.
With his dominant stage win, Pogačar secured his third UAE Tour title, finishing 1:14 ahead of Ciccone in the general classification. Bilbao took third place, a further five seconds back.
Jonathan Milan sealed the green jersey as the points classification winner, having claimed two sprint stage victories during the week. The white jersey for the best young rider went to Iván Romeo, while Đorđe Đurić won the black jersey for the intermediate sprints competition.
Photo Credit: Sprint Cycling AgencyPogačar’s thoughts on the win
“A lot of guys had one last chance to go for something today,” Pogačar said after the finish. “With the crosswinds, we tried to make some chaos in the peloton, and for us GC riders, we had to be really attentive. It split the first time, and somehow it worked. At first, I didn’t believe the group would be cooperative, but it stayed clear to the finish, so it was a good day.”
“I wouldn’t have minded taking it easy to the climb, but this situation worked out well. Florian and Rune kept getting me water and keeping me cool, so it wasn’t too hard of a day. When Rune pulled off, I decided to go solo—I didn’t want to risk a counter-attack, so it was better to go at my own pace to the top.”
With the UAE Tour marking his first race of the season, Pogačar now turns his focus to the spring classics. “Now I won’t take part in any stage race until June, so I’ll switch my mind to the one-day races,” he confirmed. “I hope to do well there as well.”
2025 UAE Tour Stage 7 result
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2025 UAE Tour GC result
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Main photo credit: Sprint Cycling Agency
