Congratulations to Team Jumbo – Visma’s Primoz Roglic (Antares 00 saddle) whose victory on Friday’s sixth stage secured the overall title at the inaugural UAE Tour. Alejandro Valverde retained the second-placed spot he’s occupied since stage three.

Roglic set up his first race victory of 2019 with a dominant performance on the 175km sixth stage that began in Ajman and finished atop Jebal Jais mountain after a gruelling 20km ascent. The 29-year-old Slovenian unleashed one more huge effort near the line to beat Tom Dumoulin to stage victory.

“From the beginning, our guys protected me from the wind,” Roglic said, “but I must pay special thanks to Laurens, who pulled until 500m to go.”

It completed an impressive week for the Dutch team as Roglic had worn the red jersey since Team Jumbo – Visma’s stunning team time-trial victory on stage one. It also proved a great race for 38-year-old Valverde, whose victory on stage three was his first wearing the world champion’s rainbow jersey, and shows he’s riding into form for not only his favoured Ardennes Classics but also the Tour of Flanders, which he’ll race for the first time on 7 April.