Saudi Tour stage one results & GC: Rui Costa takes opening stage

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