The Cycling Season Begins: the Results of Latin Americans in the UAE Tour 2023

This was the fifth edition of the United Arab Emirates Tour (UAE Tour), which ran from February 20 to 26. The race had seven stages, which were divided as follows: four for sprinters, two mountain stages and a team time trial. They were more than 638.77 miles (ca. 1,028 km) that some of the greatest cyclists of today ran. Tadej Pogačar, who had been crowned in the last two editions, could not defend the winner's podium, since he was not present this year. But it was the young Belgian Remco Evenepoel, 23, who took the spotlight and from the third stage dressed in red as the leader and undisputed winner of the UAE Tour 2023.

The South American Runners Who Participated in the Contest

On the Latin American side, five Colombians stood out in the competition: Juan Sebastián Molano (UAE Team Emirates), Fernando Gaviria (Movistar Team), Einer Rubio (Movistar Team), Diego Camargo (EF Education-EasyPost) and Harold Tejada (Astana Qazaqstan). In addition, the Argentine Eduardo Sepúlveda (Lotto-Dstny) also said present.

Of those mentioned above, it was the Colombian Einer Rubio of the Movistar Team who celebrated his 25th birthday with a victory in stage three that took place between Umbrella Beach Al Fujairah and the top of Jebel Jais with a distance of 114.95 miles (ca. 185 km). For the first time in his professional career, the man born in Chíquiza, Boyacá, 1.64 meters tall and 54 kilos, raised his arms to win the stage with a time of 4h 51.24.14 seconds ahead of the then leader and favorite for the title Remco Evenepoel.

“For me, it is something very special, for my sports career. I've had a lot of problems in previous years, I had the strength, but I came to the races and I didn't have the opportunity to squeeze my talent, so for me, for my family, for Colombia, it's a very incredible day," said Rubio at the media briefing after his iconic win.

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In addition, in the fourth stage of the tour, a coffee grower was also the winner. Juan Sebastian Molano (UAE Team Emirates), in a strong and tight pack, won by means of the “photo-finish”, beating Olav Kooij (Jumbo-Visma) and Sam Welsford (DSM) by centimeters, who had taken the lead in the sprint, but they were surprised by Molano who launched his bicycle and was left with the victory. After the victory, the Colombian cyclist stated that it was a very important race in his professional life, and it was also important for his sponsor. Meanwhile, he noted that he felt "very happy for the whole team." "Thank the staff and all the runners," he concluded.

Although it is true that in the fifth stage of the race the Movistar Team rider Fernando Gaviria tried to take the stage, he was faced with a great rider Dylan Groenewegen (Team Jayco AlUla), who with a significant difference over Gaviria left him behind, and he was victorious on the fifth day of the race.

This Is How the General Classification of Latin American Runners Was Left

Einer Rubio has been the best Latin American in the race. The Colombian was in box 13, 2 minutes and 57 seconds behind the leader. For his part, the Argentine Eduardo Sepúlveda settled in position 29. Harold Tejada was ranked 41, Diego Camargo was ranked 50, Fernando Gaviria was 121 in the ranking and Juan Sebastian Molano despite his victory in the fourth stage was left with box 129. The tour left good feelings for the Colombian riders, since there were several podiums and excellent races, opening the way to a good start to the season that comes this year.