It wasn't the best of starts in his new team for Dylan Groenewegen on the opening stage, but the Dutchman today has taken his first win of the season.
In what was a rough day in the desert, no breakaway managed to jump clear early on, as within the initial 20 kilometers strong crosswinds blew the peloton apart, putting race leader Santiago Buitrago in dificulties and having to chase back.
However with long headwind sections most of the peloton came back to the front of the race. Anthony Turgis set off alone but didn't have a pleasant day out in front by himself, having to deal with strong winds and draining roads that eventually had him caught by the peloton with 14 kilometers to go.
From there on a bunch sprint was inevitable. Many teams had riders up front but it was Team BikeExchange who had the prime leadout, with Luka Mezgec hitting the front at just the right time and launching Groenewegen for the win.
Dan McLay finished second and Caleb Ewan, who was by far the fastest rider in the final sprint, finished third after starting off in a very bad position.
Santiago Buitrago managed to defend his leadership and will go into the queen stage in the green jersey.
Rúben SilvaEditor-in-Chief
A founding contributor to CyclingUpToDate since its launch in January 2022, Ruben Silva has played a central role in shaping the site’s editorial direction and long-term growth. Before joining the project, he built his experience through independent blogging at Echelons Hub and by producing race previews for Ciclismo Internacional, developing a strong analytical voice rooted in daily engagement with professional cycling.
Beyond editorial work, he has been closely involved in the expansion and coordination of CyclingUpToDate’s wider network, helping establish and support sister platforms across multiple languages. This includes ongoing collaboration with CiclismoAlDia (Spanish), CiclismoAtual (Portuguese), WielrennenUpToDate (Dutch), and RadsportAktuell (German), contributing to a shared editorial vision and consistent international coverage.
He also helps oversee editorial governance across the network, setting standards for accuracy and consistency and coordinating updates or corrections when needed.
Originally from the Porto metropolitan area in Portugal, he holds a bachelor’s degree in Geography. His path into cycling journalism was shaped not through formal media training, but through independent reporting, community engagement, and sustained on-the-ground involvement in the sport.
Over the course of his career, he has conducted approximately 100 interviews across road cycling and cyclocross, ranging from one-to-one conversations and online formats to press conferences and on-site pre- and post-race coverage. His interviews include leading riders, team managers, and prominent figures within cycling media: Tadej Pogacar, Jonas Vingegaard, Mathieu van der Poel, Primoz Roglic, Wout van Aert, Joao Almeida and Tom Pidcock; managers like Patrick Lefevere and Joxean Matxin; and YouTube personality Bryan Kennedy (BKXC)...
Within 18 months of launch, he helped grow CyclingUpToDate’s English-language platform into one of the most-read cycling news websites, built entirely from the ground up. As both a professional journalist and lifelong cycling enthusiast, his focus remains on delivering accurate, timely, and well-contextualized coverage.
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Rafionain-Glas03-11-2026 - He lives in MonacoRafionain-Glas03-11-2026
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🎥 Relive the last kilometer of Stage 3 of the 2022 Saudi Tour and the sprint victory of 🇳🇱 @GroenewegenD - @GreenEDGEteam 💪 #SaudiTour
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