Agnieszka Skalniak-Sójka from CANYON//SRAM Racing won the intermediate sprint classification after today’s final stage of the UAE Tour Women. Teammates Elise Chabbey and Soraya Paladin finished the four-day Women’s World Tour placing an impressive fifth and seventh in the general classification.

Agnieszka took the lead in the intermediate sprint classification after the second stage, extending that lead in the queen stage the following day. An early breakaway on today’s final stage took the remaining points on offer, meaning Skalniak-Sójka and her teammates could give full focus to the lead out for Sarah Roy in the final.

The pace increased as the breakaway was caught with 20 kilometres to go, and one final crosswind section, the theme of the UAE Women Tour, quickly split the peloton. It wasn’t long before it all came back together for a bunch sprint into Abu Dhabi Breakwater. In the final, Sarah sprinted to eighth behind stage winner Charlotte Kool (DSM). Elisa Longo Borghini (TFS) took home the GC leader’s jersey.

RIDER REACTIONS

Agnieszka: “I’m very happy to win this jersey for the team. We still don’t know each other well, but we rode as a team all week and that’s a nice feeling, knowing that we can still improve.

Our main aim was the GC and the bunch sprints. This jersey is a bonus. It’s my first World Tour jersey, so it’s quite special. I’m also happy that we could help Elise and Soraya finish high on the GC. It’s a nice start to the season.”

Elise Chabbey: “I’m pleased with my shape for this first race of the season. It feels really good to race with the team and we’re motivated for the spring classics.”

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