“I want to do my best against the climbers" - Jebel Hafeet climb gives Lotte Kopecky earlier season test at UAE Tour Women

Cycling
Saturday, 10 February 2024 at 12:30
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Stage 3 of the 2024 UAE Tour Women concludes atop the immense Jebel Hafeet climb and for world champion, Lotte Kopecky it is a perfect, early-season test to see where her level is at.

“I want to do my best against the climbers,” says Team SD Worx - Protime's Rainbow Jersey-wearing superstar after her teammate, Lorena Wiebes make it back-to-back sprint wins on stage 2 in Madinat Zayed. “I'll see how far I can go."

Kopecky has proven in the past she can more than compete with the best climbers, notably finishing second overall at the 2023 Tour de France Femmes. In Jebel Hafeet however, she faces the daunting task of a 10km climb that averages out at a 9% gradient.

Last year, Gaia Realini was second behind her teammate, Elisa Longo Borghini, and the Lidl-Trek rider also had a word about the climb pre-stage. “We are ready to play our cards as best we can. Copying last year's script would be great, but every year is different. We will see how the others do and of course I will do my best,” said Realini.

The current Queen of Jebel Hafeet is Gaia Realini who is back again this year and stands a good chance of setting a new QoM Last year's race saw Realini average 204w for 30:06 @ 5.1 w/kg The wind is helpful today for setting a new PB and maybe the race win! #UAETourWomen

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