Happy birthday, Einer Rubio! First pro win atop Jebel Jais

Colombian shines on the slopes of Jebel Jais to crown fantastic day for Movistar Team -7 wins in 2023; five in the Middle East- after Oier Lazkano's long breakaway

The Movistar Team continues its splendid February campaign in the Gulf with a fifthvictory in the region on Wednesday, its seventh success of the 2023 season, as Einer Rubio raised his arms victorious in Jebel Jais, the highest peak of the United Arab Emirates, to take stage three of the UAE Tour.

The young man from Chíquiza, Boyacá, capped off a sensational performance from the group led by Pablo Lastras and Patxi Vila in the Middle East over this week. A long escape from Oier Lazkano, caught with 14km to go after spending the whole last third of the race solo at the front, was followed by a fantastic leadout from Albert Torres, whom, despite not being a climber, gave it his all to open a gap with Rubio and serve a launchpad so Einer could reach a minute's advantage with 6km to go. No race contenders were able to bring him back before the line.

'Piccolino', who celebrated his 25th birthday on Wednesday, claimed here his first pro success -and also the Movistar Team's maiden WorldTour victory of the year- to leave behind years of setbacks and show everyone who still doesn't know him that this one rider, thos solo attacker, is someone to take into account in the future.

Einer Rubio said afterwards, “It's incredible, to be honest. My first pro victory! I went through so many difficult things over the past few years that hurt me so much. Now I'm back on the right path. The team brought me here so calmly and well protected into the climb. I got myself to the foot of the climb and I wanted to go already, I was feeling so strong. Winning here is a special feeling. The tactics were to wait for a big longer before going, but I was feeling with such great legs, I had my team-mates by my side, I had to try it, and things turned out well for us."

"Over the last few kilometers I was always a bit doubtful that they could come after me, but I was keeping some energy for the end and was able to hold on and take the victory. This is something really special for my sporting career - I had so many problems over the last few years, because I had the strength, yet ended up struggling badly at races and couldn't take advantage. This is for me, my family, Colombia - it's incredible. Let's try to build up on this, continue to follow the right course, and work hard to keep improving. It's also my birthday! No better gift that this, I must say."

VIDEO: 2023 UAE Tour Stage 3 Highlights

2023 UAE Tour Stage 3 Top 10

1  RUBIO Einer Augusto Movistar Team 4:51:24
2  EVENEPOEL Remco Soudal - Quick Step 0:14
3  YATES Adam UAE Team Emirates 0:15
4  LUTSENKO Alexey Astana Qazaqstan Team 0:15
5  PLAPP Luke INEOS Grenadiers 0:15
6  VANHOUCKE Harm Team DSM 0:15
7  GLOAG Thomas Jumbo-Visma 0:15
8  LEKNESSUND Andreas Team DSM 0:15
9  KUSS Sepp Jumbo-Visma 0:15
10  ZWIEHOFF Ben BORA - hansgrohe 0:15

2023 UAE Tour GC after Stage 3

1  EVENEPOEL Remco Soudal - Quick Step 8:27:22
2  PLAPP Luke INEOS Grenadiers 0:07
3  BILBAO Pello Bahrain - Victorious 0:11
4  DE BOD Stefan EF Education-EasyPost 1:01
5  POELS Wout Bahrain - Victorious 1:04
6  VANHOUCKE Harm Team DSM 1:10
7  LEKNESSUND Andreas Team DSM ,,
8  RUBIO Einer Augusto Movistar Team 1:11
9  STEINHAUSER Georg EF Education-EasyPost ,,
10  YATES Adam UAE Team Emirates 1:12