Abu Dhabi Tour 2018: Valverde takes mountain stage and GC victory
The 5th and last stage of the 2018 Abu Dhabi Tour ends at Jebel Hafeet. The race ignites at the 10.8 kilometres closing climb at 6.6%. Alejandro Valverde climbs to the stage win and the overall victory. Wilco Kelderman finishes second on GC, Miguel Ángel López rounds out the podium. (Slideshow route/profile)
Results 5th stage 2018 Abu Dhabi Tour
1. Alejandro Valverde (spa)
2. Miguel Ángel López (col) s.t.
3. Julian Alaphilippe (fra) + 0.15
4. Rafal Majka (pol) s.t.
5. Wilco Kelderman (nld) s.t.
6. Davide Formolo (ita) + 0.37
7. Niklas Eg (den) + 0.47
8. Diego Ulissi (ita) + 0.55
9. Rui Costa (por) s.t.
10. Antwan Tolhoek (nld) s.t.
Final GC 2018 Abu Dhabi Tour
1. Alejandro Valverde (spa)
2. Wilco Kelderman (nld) + 0.17
3. Miguel Ángel López (col) + 0.29
4. Julian Alaphilippe (fra) + 0.31
5. Rafal Majka (pol) + 0.45
6. Davide Formolo (ita) + 1.13
7. Diego Ulissi (ita) + 1.18
8. Rui Costa (por) + 1.28
9. Rohan Dennis (aus) + 1.29
10. Emanuel Buchmann (ger) + 1.37
Race report
Shortly after the start a five-rider group goes clear and four riders bridge across. Greipel, Craddock, Trusov, Bonifazio, Bresciani, Barbier, Frison, Henttala and Brändle race to a maximum lead of more than 10 minutes.
At the last climb Craddock is the last remaining attacker upfront, while last year’s runner-up Ilnur Zakarin is dropped at the lower slopes. Leader Dennis is struggling with 6 kms remaining, a little after Formolo strikes out.
Valverde joins Formolo before with López and Alaphilippe hook on, too. Formolo can’t follow the pace at first, but Kelderman bridges across with Majka and Formolo. López heads out on his own with 4 kms to go and is rejoined by Valverde. Kelderman desperately tries to get back with Alaphilippe and Majka on his wheel, but he doesn’t make it.
Valverde edges out López atop Jabel Hafeet, thus taking the overall race from Kelderman with López rounding out the podium in third.
Read also: route 5th stage 2018 Abu Dhabi Tour.
Abu Dhabi Tour 2018 stage 5: Route maps, height profiles, and more
Click on the images to zoom
Alejandro Valverde
Watch the highlights of recent races here:
Related articles Favourites - Abu Dhabi Tour 20 Overview - Abu Dhabi Tour 20 Winners and records - Abu Dhabi Tour Rohan Dennis wins time trial and takes overall lead - Abu Dhabi Tour 20 Bauhaus bests Kittel in millimetres sprint, Viviani still in lead - Abu Dhabi Tour 20 Viviani sprints to victory and overall lead - Abu Dhabi Tour 20 Kristoff wins 1st stage and takes lead - Abu Dhabi Tour 20 Route stage 1: Madinat Zayed – Madinat Zayed - Abu Dhabi Tour 20 Route stage 2: Yas Island – Yas Island - Abu Dhabi Tour 20 Route stage 3: Abu Dhabi - Abu Dhabi - Abu Dhabi Tour 20 Route stage 4: ITT Al Maryah - Abu Dhabi Tour 20 More articles Vuelta 2025: The Route
Vuelta 2025: Riders
Vuelta 2025 Route stage 1: Turin – Novara
Vuelta 2025 Route stage 2: Alba - Limone Piemonte
Vuelta 2025 Route stage 3: San Maurizio Canavese - Ceres
Vuelta a España: Winners and records
Tour de France 2025: The Route
Tour de France 2025: Riders
Tour de France 2025 Route stage 1: Lille - Lille
Tour de France 2025 Route stage 2: Lauwin-Planque - Boulogne-sur-Mer
Tour de France 2025 Route stage 3: Valenciennes - Dunkirk
Tour de France 2025 Route stage 4: Amiens - Rouen
Tour de France 2025 Route stage 5: Caen - Caen
Tour de France 2025 Route stage 7: Saint-Malo - Mûr-de-Bretagne
Tour de France 2025 Route stage 8: Saint-Méen-le-Grand - Laval
Tour de France 2025 Route stage 9: Chinon - Châteauroux
Tour de France 2025 Route stage 10: Ennezat - Le Mont-Dore
Tour de France 2025 Route stage 11: Toulouse - Toulouse
Tour de France 2025 Route stage 12: Auch - Hautacam
Tour de France 2025 Route stage 13: Loudenvielle - Peyragudes
Tour de France 2025 Route stage 15: Muret - Carcassonne
Tour de France 2025 Route stage 16: Montpellier - Mont Ventoux
Tour de France 2025 Route stage 18: Vif - Col de la Loze
Tour de France 2025 Route stage 19: Albertville - La Plagne
Tour de France 2025 Route stage 20: Nantua - Pontarlier
Tour de France 2025 Route stage 21: Mantes-la-Ville - Paris
Cycling Calendar 2025
Tour de France 2025 Route stage 14: Pau - Superbagnères
Giro 2025: The Route Rumours
Giro 2025: Riders
Tour de France Femmes 2025: The Route
Tour de France Femmes 2025 Route stage 1: Vannes - Plumelec
Tour Down Under 2025: The Route
Like our Facebook page and stay on top of all pro-race information!
Details start 5th stage
Profile final kilometres
Climb details Jebel Hafeet
Details finish 5th stage
Al Ain and Jebel Hafeet at Google Maps
Route and profile Jebel Hafeet
Climb details Jebel Hafeet in 3D
Jebel Hafeetop at strava.com
