25.02.2022 · Results

In the sixth stage of the UAE Tour the great work of the fugitives leads to an unexpected arrival of the breakaway of the day and to the fourth place of Alessandro Tonelli, with some regrets for the possible success, but with the awareness of having completed a great test and a fourth place in a World Tour category stage.

Escape of the day initially composed of 6 athletes, including Alessandro Tonelli and Jonathan Canaveral of Bardiani CSF Faizanè, three Gazprom rides and Frenchman Paul Lapeira of the AG2R team. The group of sprinters seems to keep the fugitives under control, however underestimating the final disadvantage and the great progression of the riders on the breakaway action who manage to maintain about a minute of advantage up to the final km, thus reaching the final sprint.

With Jonathan Canaveral recovered from the group about 20 km from the end, Alessandro Tonelli and the French AG2R athlete remain outnumbered by the Gazprom team athletes who play their cards best, leading the young Czech rider Mathias Vacek to success. Fourth place for Alessandro Tonelli, between satisfaction and some regrets.

For the Italian riders it was the third breakaway in these six stages of the UAE Tour.

Alessandro Tonelli: “Unfortunately at the end of my legs after 3 days of breakaway they said no in the final sprint, so at the same time I have some regrets, but I also keep close to a fourth place in a World Tour race that is moral. At minus 40 km we gradually started to accelerate, pulling hard and the last 20km with a favorable wind we went away at 60/70 hours and behind them they could not reach us. In the sprint I am not fast and against three opponents all from the same team it was not easy, I tried but congratulations to the winner. A fourth place that gives me morale for the next races. “