Rui Costa finishes off Saudi Tour with podium

Rui Costa and UAE Team Emirates topped off a good week at the Saudi Tour by cementing his 3rd place podium after Stage 5 based around AlUla Old town (138km). Costa held consistent form to stay amongst the best of the GC to finish behind race winner Maxim Van Gils (Lotto-Soudal).

The final stage saw a bunch sprint with Fernando Gaviria up amongst the fastest to clinch 4th place behind stage winner Dylan Groenewegen (BikeExchange).

 
Rui Costa: “In general I’m pleased with the week. It was made very hard by the wind and tough conditions bu overall it was a very good week of racing. My objective was to try for the win but I think we can also be happy with the podium. We’ll take a few days now to rest and prepare for our next objective in Oman next week and aim for a big result there.”

 
Etoile de Bessèges
Meanwhile in France, Diego Ulissi clinched 6th place on the lumpy Stage 4 of the Etoile de Bessèges, which was won by Tobias Johannessen (Uno-X).

The Italian breaks into the top-10 in 7th place behind race leader Benjamin Thomas (Cofidis) heading into the final race time-trial tomorrow.

 
Vuelta Valenciana

 
In Spain, Sebastian Molano took 7th place in a fast sprint finish on Stage 4 of the Vuelta Valenciana from Orihuela to Torrevieja (193.1km).

The day was won by Matteo Moschetti (Trek-Segafredo) as Aleksandr Vlasov (Bora-Hansgrohe) holds the overall lead heading into the final day.

Saudi Tour Stage 5 results

1.Dylan Groenewegen (BikeExchange) 2:56:10
2.Dan McClay (Arkea Samsic) s.t
3. Davide Ballerini (Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl) s.t

4. Fernando Gaviria (UAE Team Emirates) s.t

 
Saudi Tour General Classification after Stage 5

1.Maxim Van Gils (Lotto Soudal) 20:05:48
2. Santiago Buitrago (Bahrain-Victorious) +36’’
3. Rui Costa (UAE Team Emirates) +48’’

Etoile de Bessèges Stage 4 results

1. Tobias Johannessen (Uno-X) 3:30:32
2. Jay Vine (Alpecin-Fenix) s.t
3. Antonio Tiberi (Trek-Segafredo) s.t

6.Diego Ulissi (UAE Team Emirates) +20”

Etoile de Bessèges General Classification after stage 4

1.Benjamin Thomas (Cofidis) 14:23:50
2.Alberto Bettiol (Education -EasyPost) +7’’
3.Tobias Johannessen (Uno-X) +8’’
7. Diego Ulissi (UAE Team Emirates) +56’’

Vuelta Valenciana Stage 4 results

1.Matteo Moschetti (Trek-Segafredo) 4:32:17
2.Matteo Peñalver (Burgos-BH) s.t
3.Alexander Kristoff (Intermarche-Wanty) s.t
7.Sebastian Molano (UAE Team Emirates) s.t

 
Vuelta Valenciana General Classification after stage 4

1.Aleksandr Vlasov (Bora-Hansgrohe) 17:00:56
2.Remco Evenepoel (Quick Step Alpha Vinyl) +32”
3.Carlos Rodriguez (Ineos-Grenadiers) +36”