Portugal’s Rui Costa claimed victory on the opening day of the Saudi Tour, which finished in Jaww today.
Rui Costa won stage one
of the Saudi Tour, which finished in Jaww today. Photo: Bettini Photo/UAE Team Emirates
The UAE Team Emirates rider crossed the line in 3:52:12, beating Heinrich Haussler (Bahrain-McLaren) and Nacer Bouhanni (Team Arkea-Samsic) into second and third respectively.
Costa also holds the leader’s jersey going into stage two from Sadus Castle to Riyadh, which should be a day for the sprinters.
“We knew it was going to be a hard stage and that there was going to be a lot of wind, but we did our best to be alert to the conditions,” said Costa.
“I knew who I had to watch coming into the finish and that 300m was the right time to make my move before the hairpin. It’s a really important win for me and a great start to the season.”
View more results below.
Stage one results
| 1 | Rui Costa | POR | UAE Team Emirates | 3:52:12 |
| 2 | Heinrich Haussler | AUS | Bahrain-McLaren | |
| 3 | Nacer Bouhanni | FRA | Team Arkea-Samsic | |
| 4 | Tom-Jelte Slagter | NED | B&B Hotels-Vital Concept p/b KTM | |
| 5 | Carlos Barbero | SPA | NTT Pro Cycling Team | |
| 6 | Phil Bauhaus | GER | Bahrain-McLaren | |
| 7 | Andreas Lorentz Kron | DEN | Riwal Readynez Cycling Team | |
| 8 | Niki Terpstra | NED | Total Direct Energie | |
| 9 | Matteo Malucelli | ITA | Caja Rural-Seguros RGA | |
| 10 | Jens Debusschere | BEL | B&B Hotels-Vital Concept p/b KTM |
*Selected results
| 13 | Reinardt Janse van Rensburg | NTT Pro Cycling | |
| 100 | Clint Hendricks | Bike Aid | +0:07:55 |
General classification
| 1 | Rui Costa | POR | UAE Team Emirates | 3:52:02 |
| 2 | Heinrich Haussler | AUS | Bahrain-McLaren | +0:00:01 |
| 3 | Nacer Bouhanni | FRA | Team Arkea-Samsic | +0:00:06 |
| 4 | Andreas Lorentz Kron | DEN | Riwal Readynez Cycling Team | +0:00:09 |
| 5 | Tom-Jelte Slagter | NED | B&B Hotels-Vital Concept p/b KTM | +0:00:10 |
| 6 | Carlos Barbero | SPA | NTT Pro Cycling Team | |
| 7 | Phil Bauhaus | GER | Bahrain-McLaren | |
| 8 | Niki Terpstra | NED | Total Direct Energie | |
| 9 | Matteo Malucelli | ITA | Caja Rural-Seguros RGA | |
| 10 | Jens Debusschere | BEL | B&B Hotels-Vital Concept p/b KTM |
*Selected results
| 13 | Reinardt Janse van Rensburg | NTT Pro Cycling | +0:00:10 |
| 100 | Clint Hendricks | Bike Aid | +0:08:05 |
