Charlotte Kool wins Stage 1 of UAE Tour Women

Charlotte Kool (Team DSM) won Stage 1 of the inaugural edition of the UAE Tour Women, ahead of Lorena Wiebes (Team SD Worx) and Chiara Consonni (UAE Team ADQ).

The Dutch rider is now the leader of the General Classification and has been awarded the race’s first-ever Red Jersey and Green Jersey.

The opening Dubai Stage featured 109 km of riding on a mostly flat route, departing from Port Rashid and culminating with a bunch sprint at Dubai Harbour.

Speaking seconds after the finish, Kool said: "It’s an amazing feeling to be the first-ever winner of the UAE Tour Women and I still can’t believe it. I trained really hard for this race and to produce a nice sprint was incredible.

"There were a lot of crashes in the last kilometres and we lost some really strong riders, but thankfully I was able to produce a really strong sprint. We will go again tomorrow and I can’t wait to sprint again!"

Charlotte Kool (Team DSM) wins stage 1 of UAE Tour Women. @uae_tour #Dubai https://t.co/jf3gweHe8H

— Dubai Media Office (@DXBMediaOffice) February 9, 2023

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, greeted the cyclists as they passed along Bu Kadra bridge on Thursday.

The event has drawn 120 professional riders representing 20 teams from across the world.

Video: @HHShkMohd watches part of stage 1 of the UAE Tour Women. pic.twitter.com/TDu8hO3WV7

— Dubai Media Office (@DXBMediaOffice) February 9, 2023

محمد بن راشد يشهد جانباً من طواف #الإمارات للسيدات 2023 مع انطلاق نسخته الأولى. #دبي pic.twitter.com/RjYRBBlgfF

— Dubai Media Office (@DXBMediaOffice) February 9, 2023