Tatsiana Sharakova outlasts the pack to lead the Dubai Women’s Cycle Tour

Minsk Cycle Club rider holds four-second lead heading into the final stage

Stage 3 Winner Tatsiana Sharakova crossing the gruelling finish line atop Hatta Dam. Handout image
Powered by automated translation

Belarus’s Tatsiana Sharakova claimed stage and general classification honours by outlasting the pack up the final climb on the third and penultimate day of the Dubai Women’s Cycle Tour.

The stage featured four climbs as riders headed into the Hatta Mountains, starting from Wadi Hatta Park and finishing a gruelling 90km later.

The Agolico BMC team made the early moves but Sharakova prevailed, powering up the final ascent to the finish at the spectacular Hatta Dam.

The Minsk Cycle Club rider also claimed a second place finish in stage one, meaning she will be wearing the leader’s red jersey in Thursday's final stage in Dubai.

Colombian Daniela Atehortua Hoyos (Colnago CM Team) reached the finish in second spot with stage one winner Lucy van der Haar (Hitec Products - Birk Sports) surprising even herself with a podium finish in third.

“I knew it was going to be hard today. If I’m completely honest I thought I’d be dropped,” admitted Van der Haar, who is better known for her sprinting prowess.

Sharakova holds a four-second general classification lead over Van der Haar heading into the final stage.

Meanwhile, Britain’s Annabel Fisher (Cogeas Mettler Look Pro Cycling Team) assumed the pink jersey for the best climber while 20-year-old Atehortua Hoyos took over the white jersey for the best young rider (under-23)