"I have never started a season like this": Antonio Tiberi stays positive after losing UAE Tour lead to Del Toro

Antonio Tiberi faced the final mountain test of the UAE Tour wearing the race leader's red jersey. However, the Bahrain - Victorious rider could not withstand a powerful surge from Isaac del Toro on the steep slopes of Jebel Hafeet. Although he lost his overall lead to the Mexican talent, the young Italian is choosing to focus on the major progress he has made this year.

Tiberi started the day in control after winning the first mountain stage of the race earlier in the week. When the peloton reached the deciding climb of Jebel Hafeet, Del Toro launched his expected attack. Tiberi was the last rider able to follow the UAE Team Emirates leader, but the effort eventually proved too much.

He was dropped with less than 3 kilometers remaining and finished the stage in fourth place, 31 seconds behind Del Toro. This time loss meant he lost the red jersey by exactly 20 seconds. There is one stage left, but it is pan-flat, so it is very unlikely that Tiberi will be able to recover over 20 seconds.

"Today was a very hard day from the start, with a very high pace," Tiberi explained after crossing the finish line in quotes collected by Spazio Ciclismo. "Then, on the climb I tried to defend myself with all the energy I had.

He detailed how the decisive moment happened. "I tried to follow Del Toro on the first attack. I was on his wheel, but then he made another strong acceleration and I was not able to follow him," he admitted. "He was very strong on the climb and I can only congratulate him on the victory."

Losing the race lead on the final mountain might feel like a defeat, but Tiberi's main goal for the race was to finish on the podium. With that objective practically secured (barring crashes or echelons in the last stage), along with a prestigious stage win already in his pocket, he considers the race a major success. "Surely I can still be proud and happy because I have never started a season like this, with these numbers and feelings," he stated.

He also made sure to praise his teammates for their hard work throughout the week in the Middle East. "So I am very happy with my feelings and the team, who always believed in me every day, until the end," Tiberi concluded. "They were also very strong and I thank them."