Remco Evenepoel wins UAE Tour as Adam Yates takes Jebel Hafeet victory

Adam Yates attacked at Jebel Hafeet to win the Queen Stage with Remco Evenepoel defending his lead to take the overall classification

The Queen Stage was lovely and sunny with some wind, a mainly calm day in the peloton until the finale/

Five riders got into the breakaway; Michel Hessmann (Jumbo-Visma), Jaakko Hanninen (AG2R Citroën Team), Maurice Ballerstedt (Alpecin-Deceuninck), Ignatas Konovalovas (Groupama - FDJ) and Sam Welsford (Team DSM).

The group was never allowed to get too far in front and they splinetered at the foot of  te final climb of Jebel Hafeet with the gap of just under three minutes.

UAE Team Emirates began pushing the pace right from the base of the climb, with Adam Yates looking to win the stage and GC.

The pace set was so high the peloton exploded with only a handful of riders including Remco Evenepoel and Sepp Kuss able to stay in contention

Behind Pello Bilbao and Luke Plapp formed a chasing group as the last breakaway survivors were caught.

The pace did not slow down as Evenepoel took over and Kuss was distanced, who was quickly reeled in by Bilbao who had dropped Plapp.

The fight for the stage was decided with 3 kilometers to go as Adam Yates launching his second attack, with Evenepoel unable to respond.

The Briton soared to victory, with Remco Evenepoel crossing the line shortly after to secure the overall classification.

Geoffrey Bouchard sprinted to third place beating Kuss, with Pello Bilbao and Luke Plapp behind.

VIDEO: 2023 UAE Tour Stage 7 Highlights

2023 UAE Tour Final General Classification

1  EVENEPOEL Remco Soudal - Quick Step 23:25:26
2  PLAPP Luke INEOS Grenadiers 0:59
3  YATES Adam UAE Team Emirates 1:00
4  BILBAO Pello Bahrain - Victorious 1:03
5  KUSS Sepp Jumbo-Visma 2:06
6  POELS Wout Bahrain - Victorious 2:18
7  TIBERI Antonio Trek - Segafredo 2:33
8  ZWIEHOFF Ben BORA - hansgrohe 2:38
9  BUCHMANN Emanuel BORA - hansgrohe ,,
10  VANHOUCKE Harm Team DSM 2:40

2023 UAE Tour Stage 7 Top 10

1  YATES Adam UAE Team Emirates 3:29:42
2  EVENEPOEL Remco Soudal - Quick Step 0:10
3  BOUCHARD Geoffrey AG2R Citroën Team 0:42
4  KUSS Sepp Jumbo-Visma 0:47
5  BILBAO Pello Bahrain - Victorious 0:54
6  PLAPP Luke INEOS Grenadiers 0:54
7  POELS Wout Bahrain - Victorious 1:16
8  TIBERI Antonio Trek - Segafredo 1:16
9  ZWIEHOFF Ben BORA - hansgrohe 1:25
10  STORER Michael Groupama - FDJ 1:25