Lorena Wiebes Eyes UAE Tour Dominance Amidst Acknowledged Sprint Vulnerability

UAE - Ekhbary News Agency

Lorena Wiebes Eyes UAE Tour Dominance Amidst Acknowledged Sprint Vulnerability

Lorena Wiebes, the undisputed queen of the cycling sprint, is poised to commence her 2024 season at the prestigious UAE Tour Women, a race that has become synonymous with her name. With an astonishing record of six stage victories across the event's three previous editions, Wiebes enters the fourth iteration as the clear favorite, her sights set on further extending an already formidable winning streak. However, beneath the surface of her relentless pursuit of victory lies a pragmatic acknowledgement of the transient nature of sporting dominance.

The Dutch powerhouse has transformed the UAE Tour into her personal playground. In the 2025 edition, she showcased a level of dominance that few could have predicted, claiming victory on all three flat stages. This performance not only marked the start of what was arguably her most successful season to date but also cemented her reputation as the rider to beat. The odds are undeniably stacked in her favor as the race unfolds this week in Al Mirfa, a testament to her consistent brilliance and tactical acumen.

Last year was a masterclass in cycling supremacy for Wiebes. Her season was punctuated by 25 individual victories, propelling her career total to an impressive 118 wins. Crucially, she remained unbeaten in every single sprint finish she contested. Her exceptional form extended beyond road racing; she also captured the coveted World Gravel title and secured two additional rainbow jerseys on the track, showcasing her remarkable versatility and enduring class. With the UAE Tour Women offering its customary blend of opportunities for sprinters, including three clear-cut flat stages before the challenging final ascent of Jebel Hafeet, Wiebes appears almost destined to add more silverware to her already overflowing cabinet.

However, Wiebes' success in the Emirates is not solely attributable to brute force or raw sprinting power. The race dynamics in the UAE often present unique challenges, such as the notorious crosswinds. Last year's second stage serves as a prime example, where unpredictable gusts fractured the peloton, leaving Wiebes to contest the sprint victory with a select group of only six riders. This strategic element, coupled with the inherent opportunities for stage wins, provides a compelling reason for her continued participation in the UAE Tour.

"We have a lot of sprint opportunities, but also the chance of echelons, so that's also nice," Wiebes revealed in a pre-race press conference ahead of Wednesday's official start. She elaborated on the tactical complexities, particularly regarding echelon formations, which can split the race apart. "I started on the first row of the echelon stage [last year], because it was less than one kilometer neutral, the rest of my team was standing more at the back, and they never made it to the front. So that's really important, but also you just need to have to focus in the race. And it's also important to have a good lead out." This highlights her understanding that success requires not only individual strength but also seamless team coordination and positioning.

The SD Worx-Protime team structure for this year's UAE Tour presents an interesting dynamic with the inclusion of former world champion Anna van der Breggen in a new role. While Van der Breggen's presence adds significant strength, it also necessitates a strategic balancing act for the team. Wiebes, having already kicked off her season at the Tour Down Under two weeks prior, will once again rely heavily on the expertise of Barbara Guarischi, who resumes her crucial role as Wiebes' chief lead-out rider.

"She always is in the right position in the sprint or drops me off in the right position," Wiebes said, expressing her confidence in Guarischi's abilities. "In the last years, we have said we will do our own way, and the team just focuses on keeping the speed high in the peloton. But now also with Anna here, she showed us in the Vuelta last year that she can also be really important in a lead out, and that she has the power to do it. So we need to find a bit of balance, not too much work for her for the GC [General Classification], and how we can use the team in the best way." This strategic adaptation underscores the team's commitment to optimizing their resources for maximum impact across different race objectives.

The scheduling of the challenging Jebel Hafeet stage on the final day has been met with approval by Wiebes. "It's good now that the Jebel Hafeet stage is on the last day, because normally, as a sprinter, you think maybe I save a bit for the next day because I still need to sprint. Now it's different, now you we can go all out, because it's the last day." This strategic advantage allows sprinters to fully commit their energy in the preceding stages without the usual concern of conserving resources for future sprint opportunities.

While Wiebes maintains a composed facade, the notion of her holding back on climbs has rarely been evident. In a striking display of team loyalty and versatility two years ago, she worked diligently for Lotte Kopecky on the ascent of Jebel Hafeet, even while Kopecky wore the world champion's rainbow bands. This performance demonstrated that Wiebes possesses capabilities extending far beyond pure sprinting.

Reflecting on her physical attributes and the pursuit of all-around improvement, Wiebes stated, "I think it's of course partly genetic. You really need to find the balance. I think in '24 there was a period that I didn't have that, or a bit less balance. Every year it's a bit of a risk to try to improve in the climbing part and not lose too much on the sprinting part, so that we will find out really soon, I guess. But the good thing for me is that if I feel that I lose some sprint power, that I can also more easily gain it back if I focus more on sprint trainings." This candid assessment highlights the constant challenge sprinters face in balancing speed with endurance and climbing ability, a perpetual tightrope walk in professional cycling.

The first significant sprint opportunity for Wiebes is anticipated to arrive on Thursday, where she will undoubtedly aim to assert her dominance once again. Yet, the underlying sentiment remains: the era of unchallenged sprint supremacy, however dominant, is a fleeting moment in the grand narrative of professional cycling. The inevitable day will arrive when a challenger emerges, pushing Wiebes to her absolute limit, a prospect she seems to accept with professional grace and a hint of anticipation.

Ekhbary News Agency