Superb ride from Giulio Ciccone sees him finish second atop Jebel Hafeet to secure second overall on the General Classification, while Jonathan Milan took maximum points at both intermediate sprints to ensure he took home the final green jersey of the week.
The word at the start of the stage was echelons. Strong winds were expected to play a big role on the final stage and how the race approached the bottom of the final climb and they did!
https://twitter.com/uae_tour/status/1893588040771158105
Lidl-Trek was prepared for it and made sure that Ciccone was in the first echelon when the bunch split and that he had teammates with him. Patrick Konrad, who went on to finish 10th overall himself, and Daan Hoole were right there with him and shepherded him excellently through the chaos.
Milan was up the road, after jumping in an early breakaway to sweep up the maximum points at the first intermediate sprint, and once the first group caught up to them, the green jersey slotted right into the echelon next to Ciccone.
As the 10.8-kilometer climb, which had an average gradient of 6.6% and pitched of 11% in places, began, Ciccone was perfectly placed in the wheel of the red jersey and was able to respond to his initial attack. After Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates XRG) pushed on for a second time, the Italian climber settled into his own rythym and in a final sprint to the line against Pello Bilbao (Bahrain Victorious), he was able to get enough of a gap to secure both second on the stage and on the General Classification.
#UAETour What a ride by our @giuliocicco1! 2nd on the Queen Stage behind Pogačar, which earns him 2nd on the final podium also 🥈 pic.twitter.com/HB88SZz3rx
— Lidl-Trek (@LidlTrek) February 23, 2025
Giulio Ciccone
Second place is not a victory but I’m quite happy. Today was a crazy stage so I can be happy with a second place behind Pogi. I’m happy with my shape, my condition and also about the team because they did a super great job. In general, I’m really happy.
I think this [the echelons] was the hardest part of the stage for me. In this moment it’s hard to be in the right place, but I think my teammates did something really special for me today and I need to say thanks to them. I finished on the podium in GC, which is always something good. I’m proud and I think it’s the best way to start the new season and let’s continue like this.
Milan stepped onto the podium to receive the green jersey, which mathematically won at the foot of Jebel Hafeet after winning the second intermediate sprint of Stage 7.
https://twitter.com/LidlTrek/status/1893650126209478896
Jonathan Milan
For us it was important to bring Ciccone in the best spot possible to get through the echelons, and also to bring home this [Green] Jersey. It was pretty close between me and Merlier on the points so I prefer to go in the break and take the first points. When the first group chased us I just kept working with my guys and in the end we always supported Ciccone and he delivered a perfect and beautiful result today.
We came here to win as much as we could, and to win this Green Jersey. We achieved a lot in this UAE Tour and we are really happy about it. We will also learn a lot about this UAE Tour and it’s always important to watch the mistakes we make and learn from this.
