CYCLING – TEAM Bahrain Victorious rider Rainer Kepplinger put in a heroic effort on the queen stage of the AlUla Tour yesterday, and was rewarded with a third-place finish, solidifying his position in second on the general classification (GC).
The race was fast from the start, with teams battling for position ahead of the decisive climb.
The team executed the strategy perfectly, delivering Kepplinger to the base of the climb in an ideal position.
Thomas Pidcock of Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team was the winner of the fourth stage, while Alan Hatherly of Team Jayco AlUla finished as runner-up, right ahead of Kepplinger.
Teammate Max van der Meulen came 10th to make it two Bahrain Victorious riders in the top 10.
Kepplinger said: “It was a fast and tough climb. When Pidcock attacked, it was impossible to follow, but I found myself in a strong group with two Jayco AlUla riders and an Uno-X rider.
“We worked well together, and in the end, I’m happy with third place on this stage.”
Bahrain Victorious sports director Aart Vierhouten added: “Of course, we were a bit nervous – it’s cycling, anything can happen.
“The team did a fantastic job keeping Rainer in position for the climb. On the steep sections, he was exactly where he needed to be. Once the race split, he rode brilliantly, matching or even exceeding Hatherly’s strength.
“At first, their group wasn’t cooperating well, but when they saw Majka’s group closing in, they started working together.
“Behind them, there was also a great battle for the Young Rider classification, with two Norwegians, a Dutch rider, and our Max van der Meulen in the mix. Max finishing 10th today was a strong performance as well.
“Tomorrow, we expect a lot of crosswinds in the final stage, but yesterday we showed that we can handle those conditions. We’re confident.”
Today’s final leg will cover a distance of 169.6km, starting and finishing at AlUla Camel Cup Track.
&uuid=(email))