Cycling: Costa Wins Abu Dhabi Mountain Stage
Muhammad Rameez Published February 25, 2017 | 08:30 PM
ABU DHABI, , (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 25th Feb, 2017 ) : Portugal's Rui Costa dropped all comers up the 12km Jebel Hafeet mountain Saturday to claim the third stage of the Tour of Abu Dhabi and take a firm grip on the overall lead.
The former world champion stands a great chance of overall victory as Sunday's final stage runs 26 laps around the perfect tarmac of the Yas Marina Formula One circuit, a stage which is likely to end in a bunch sprint.
The 30-year-old is showing powerful early season form after also coming second in the Tour of Oman. Costa signed with the Abu Dhabi team in the close season and rewarded their confidence here by dropping final rival Ilnur Zakarin over the last few metres, with Dutch ace Tom Dumoulin in third at 10 seconds.
Earlier on the climb pre-stage favourites and major Tour winners Alberto Contador and Nairo Quintana had neutralised each other's attempts to get away before Costa sprung his burst of speed on a steep section.
Of the other top climbers Bauke Mollema was fourth at 28 seconds and Fabio Aru sixth at 46, while Quintana was 10th and Contador ended 13th. Stage three: 1. Rui Costa (POR/UAD) 186km in 4hrs 34min 08sec, 2.
Ilnur Zakarin (RUS/KAT) same time, 3. Tom Dumoulin (NED/SUN) 10sec, 4. Bauke Mollema (NED/TFS) 28, 5. Julian Alaphilippe (FRA/QST) 46 Overall standings: 1. Rui Costa (POR/UAD) 528km in 12hrs 39min 15sec, 2. Ilnur Zakarin (RUS/KAT) 4sec, 3. Tom Dumoulin (NED/SUN) 16, 4. Bauke Mollema (NED/TFS) 38, 5. Rafal Majka (POL/BOH) 56
Related Topics
Recent Stories
44 arrested for kite flying in 24 hours
Boao forum for Asia 2024 concludes on successful note
Turkey's Erdogan to hold White House talks with Biden in May
Rana Mashhood appointed chairman PM's Youth Programme
IGP inspects under-construction safe city building, Liaquat Bagh Service Center
IG says security of foreign nationals, projects to be ensured at all cost
President Biden writes letter to PM Shehbaz, expresses best wishes for newly ele ..
DC Larkana chairs meeting regarding Youm-e-Ali arrangements
Interior Minister visits FC headquarters Peshawar
One dies, 28 injured after passenger bus overturned
US Fed's favored inflation gauge ticks higher as fuel costs rise
IESCO notifies 2-day power suspension programme
More Stories From Sports
-
Army, Wapda, Navy win inaugural matches of Ramazan Cup Basketball Tournament
3 hours ago -
Separate coaches to be hired for ODIs, Test and T20I formats
4 hours ago -
Ohtani wins in Dodgers home debut, Rangers open MLB title defense with win
45 minutes ago -
Pakistan v New Zealand T20I series: Tickets to go on sale from today
9 hours ago -
Ohtani wins in Dodgers home debut, Rangers open MLB title defense with win
45 minutes ago -
Arsenal face Man City Premier League summit meeting
45 minutes ago
-
Tennis: ATP-WTA Miami Open results: collated
22 hours ago -
Pak, NZ T20I series online ticket booking from tomorrow
22 hours ago -
Football: Italian Serie A table
23 hours ago -
Nottingham Forest's double European Cup winner Lloyd dies
24 hours ago -
Two more matches decided in Inter College Ramadan T-20 Cup
23 hours ago -
PCB dismisses FICA's claims of unpaid dues in PSL
1 day ago