UAE Tour Women: Lorena Wiebes opens her season with stage 1 sprint win and red jersey

UAE Tour Women: Lorena Wiebes opens her season with stage 1 sprint win and red jersey

The Dutch sprinter secures her seventh career stage win at the UAE Tour Women, overhauling Lara Gillespie in the final 100 metres.

By Peter Stuart · · 2 min read

Lorena Wiebes (SD Worx-Protime) won stage 1 of the 2026 UAE Tour Women, claiming the red jersey after a high-speed desert sprint in Madinat Zayed.

The Dutch champion overtook Lara Gillespie (UAE Team ADQ) in the final 100 metres, with Zoe Bäckstedt (Canyon//SRAM Zondacrypto) completing the podium. Pre-race concerns about crosswinds did not result in decisive splits, and the GC standings ahead of Jebel Hafeet remain close.

Results

Al Mirfa - Madinat Zayed • Feb 5 • 111km

Velora
PosRiderTeamTime
🥇
Lorena Wiebes
TEAM SD WORX - PROTIME 2:26:17
🥈
Lara Gillespie
UAE TEAM ADQ+0:00
🥉
Zoe Backstedt
CANYON//SRAM ZONDACRYPTO+0:00
4
Maggie Coles-Lyster
HUMAN POWERED HEALTH+0:00
5
Martina Alzini
COFIDIS WOMEN TEAM+0:00
6
Gladys Verhulst Wild
AG INSURANCE - SOUDAL TEAM+0:00
7
Georgia Baker
LIV-ALULA-JAYCO+0:00
8
Emma Cecilie Norsgaard Bjerg
LIDL - TREK+0:00
9
Rachele Barbieri
TEAM PICNIC POSTNL+0:00
10
Carys Lloyd
MOVISTAR TEAM+0:00
11
Charlotte Kool
FENIX-PREMIER TECH+0:00
12
Alexandra Grace Manly
AG INSURANCE - SOUDAL TEAM+0:00
13
Nienke Veenhoven
TEAM VISMA | LEASE A BIKE+0:00
14
Karolina Kumiega
ST MICHEL - PREFERENCE HOME - AUBER93+0:00
15
Linda Zanetti
UNO-X MOBILITY+0:00
16
Aidi Gerde Tuisk
HITEC PRODUCTS-FLUID CONTROL+0:00
17
Alison Jackson
ST MICHEL - PREFERENCE HOME - AUBER93+0:00
18
Vittoria Guazzini
FDJ UNITED - SUEZ+0:00
19
Alicia Gonzalez Blanco
ST MICHEL - PREFERENCE HOME - AUBER93+0:00
20
Alexandra Volstad
EF EDUCATION - OATLY+0:00
21
Chiara Consonni
CANYON//SRAM ZONDACRYPTO+0:00
22
Amalie Dideriksen
COFIDIS WOMEN TEAM+0:00
23
Irma Siri
TOP GIRLS FASSA BORTOLO+0:00
24
Scarlett Souren
VOLKERWESSELS CYCLING TEAM+0:00
25
Franziska Koch
FDJ UNITED - SUEZ+0:00
26
Marta Pavesi
TOP GIRLS FASSA BORTOLO+0:00
27
Megan Jastrab
UAE TEAM ADQ+0:00
28
Mylene de Zoete
FENIX-PREMIER TECH+0:00
29
Marthe Goossens
AG INSURANCE - SOUDAL TEAM+0:00
30
Babette van der Wolf
EF EDUCATION - OATLY+0:00
31
Lauretta Hanson
LIDL - TREK+0:00
32
Laura Lizette Sander
HITEC PRODUCTS-FLUID CONTROL+0:00
33
Nikola Nosková
COFIDIS WOMEN TEAM+0:00
34
Niamh Fisher-Black
Unknown+0:00
35
Gaia Segato
VINI FANTINI - BEPINK+0:00
36
Eva van Agt
FDJ UNITED - SUEZ+0:00
37
Arlenis Sierra Canadilla
MOVISTAR TEAM+0:00
38
Matilde Vitillo
LIV-ALULA-JAYCO+0:00
39
Susanne Andersen
UNO-X MOBILITY+0:00
40
Katarzyna Anna Niewiadoma-Phinney
CANYON//SRAM ZONDACRYPTO+0:00
41
Silvia Zanardi
HUMAN POWERED HEALTH+0:00
42
Anna van der Breggen
TEAM SD WORX - PROTIME+0:00
43
Marlen Reusser
MOVISTAR TEAM+0:00
44
Monica Trinca Colonel
LIV-ALULA-JAYCO+0:00
45
Caroline Wreszin
ST MICHEL - PREFERENCE HOME - AUBER93+0:00
46
Juliette Berthet
FDJ UNITED - SUEZ+0:00
47
Justine Ghekiere
AG INSURANCE - SOUDAL TEAM+0:00
48
Silvia Persico
UAE TEAM ADQ+0:00
49
Ilse Pluimers
AG INSURANCE - SOUDAL TEAM+0:00
50
Quinty Ton
LIV-ALULA-JAYCO+0:00
51
Noa Jansen
LIV-ALULA-JAYCO+0:00
52
Steffi Häberlin
TEAM SD WORX - PROTIME+0:00
53
Lieke Nooijen
TEAM VISMA | LEASE A BIKE+0:00
54
Quinty Schoens
VOLKERWESSELS CYCLING TEAM+0:00
55
Auke de Buysser
EF EDUCATION - OATLY+0:00
56
Mary Patricia Kimberley le Court de Billot - Pienaar
AG INSURANCE - SOUDAL TEAM+0:00
57
Daria Pikulik
HUMAN POWERED HEALTH+0:00
58
Elisa Longo Borghini
UAE TEAM ADQ+0:00
59
Elena Cecchini
TEAM SD WORX - PROTIME+0:00
60
Marit Raaijmakers
HUMAN POWERED HEALTH+0:00
61
Felicity Wilson-Haffenden
LIDL - TREK+0:00
62
Maria Martins
CANYON//SRAM ZONDACRYPTO+0:00
63
Sophie von Berswordt
VOLKERWESSELS CYCLING TEAM+0:00
64
Eleonora Ciabocco
TEAM PICNIC POSTNL+0:00
65
Pfeiffer Georgi
TEAM PICNIC POSTNL+0:00
66
Tiffany Cromwell
CANYON//SRAM ZONDACRYPTO+0:00
67
Kamilla Aasebø
UNO-X MOBILITY+0:00
68
Mia Griffin
TEAM PICNIC POSTNL+0:00
69
Jade Wiel
FDJ UNITED - SUEZ+0:00
70
Amanda Spratt
LIDL - TREK+0:00
71
Axelle Dubau
Unknown+0:00
72
Karlijn Swinkels
UAE TEAM ADQ+0:00
73
Floortje Mackaij
MOVISTAR TEAM+0:00
74
Alexis Magner
EF EDUCATION - OATLY+0:00
75
Amber van der Hulst
VOLKERWESSELS CYCLING TEAM+0:00
76
Margot Vanpachtenbeke
LIDL - TREK+0:00
77
Elisa de Vallier
TOP GIRLS FASSA BORTOLO+0:00
78
Chiara Reghini
TOP GIRLS FASSA BORTOLO+0:00
79
Femke Markus
TEAM SD WORX - PROTIME+0:00
80
Femke de Vries
TEAM VISMA | LEASE A BIKE+0:00
81
Francesca Barale
MOVISTAR TEAM+0:00
82
Barbara Guarischi
TEAM SD WORX - PROTIME+0:00
83
Katrine Aalerud
UNO-X MOBILITY+0:00
84
Christina Schweinberger
FENIX-PREMIER TECH+0:00
85
Elynor Backstedt
UAE TEAM ADQ+0:00
86
Eglantine Rayer Girault
FDJ UNITED - SUEZ+0:00
87
Margaux Vigie
TEAM VISMA | LEASE A BIKE+0:00
88
Daniek Hengeveld
TEAM VISMA | LEASE A BIKE+0:00
89
Aude Biannic
MOVISTAR TEAM+0:00
90
Victorie Guilman
COFIDIS WOMEN TEAM+0:00
91
Anniina Ahtosalo
UNO-X MOBILITY+0:00
92
Evy Kuijpers
FENIX-PREMIER TECH+0:00
93
Marthe Truyen
FENIX-PREMIER TECH+0:00
94
Kristýna Burlová
COFIDIS WOMEN TEAM+0:17
95
Jeanne Korevaar
LIV-ALULA-JAYCO+0:20
96
Laura Tomasi
UNO-X MOBILITY+0:51
97
Robyn Clay
TEAM PICNIC POSTNL+1:35
98
April Tacey
HITEC PRODUCTS-FLUID CONTROL+3:16
99
Marion Borras
COFIDIS WOMEN TEAM+3:16
100
Sonia Rossetti
VINI FANTINI - BEPINK+3:16
101
Elyne Roussel
ST MICHEL - PREFERENCE HOME - AUBER93+3:16
102
Mari Hole Mohr
HITEC PRODUCTS-FLUID CONTROL+3:16
103
Sara Luccon
TOP GIRLS FASSA BORTOLO+3:16
104
Megan Arens
TEAM PICNIC POSTNL+3:16
105
Sofia Arici
VINI FANTINI - BEPINK+3:16
106
Linda Laporta
VINI FANTINI - BEPINK+3:16
107
Monica Castagna
TOP GIRLS FASSA BORTOLO+3:16
108
Martina Fidanza
TEAM VISMA | LEASE A BIKE+3:16
109
Magdalene Lind
HITEC PRODUCTS-FLUID CONTROL+3:16
110
Emilie Morier
ST MICHEL - PREFERENCE HOME - AUBER93+3:16
111
Neve Summer Bradbury
CANYON//SRAM ZONDACRYPTO+3:16
112
Meis Poland
VOLKERWESSELS CYCLING TEAM+3:16
113
Nina Buijsman
HUMAN POWERED HEALTH+3:16
114
Nina Berton
EF EDUCATION - OATLY+3:16
115
Anneke Dijkstra
VOLKERWESSELS CYCLING TEAM+3:16
116
Petra Stiasny
HUMAN POWERED HEALTH+12:59
117
Andrea Casagranda
VINI FANTINI - BEPINK+12:59
118
Misia Belotti
VINI FANTINI - BEPINK+12:59

Wiebes leads by four seconds over Gillespie and six over Bäckstedt. Femke De Vries (Visma-Lease a Bike) collected three bonus seconds at the intermediate sprint to sit fourth, seven seconds back.

Sprint dynamics

SD Worx-Protime held the front inside the final 2km but lost control as UAE Team ADQ surged forward. Defending champion Elisa Longo Borghini pulled hard to the flamme rouge, positioning Gillespie for the sprint – Longo Borghini is targeting the overall title.

Wiebes, lacking her full train, tracked the UAE wheels before launching on the left near the barriers. She touched wheels with Maggie Coles-Lyster (Human Powered Health) during her acceleration but stayed upright.

"I chose the wheel of Gillespie because I saw that the lead-out train of UAE had a lot of speed," Wiebes said. "It was a bit of a gamble which side to launch my sprint on. I chose the left. They could have boxed me in there, but fortunately I had just enough space to deliver my sprint.."

What comes next

This is Wiebes' seventh UAE Tour Women stage win. Stage 2 features another flat finish through Dubai, with bonus seconds available before the summit finish on Jebel Hafeet on stage 4.

Check out our guide on how to watch the UAE Tour Women.

Cover image: Alex Whitehead/SWpix.com

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Peter

Peter Stuart

Editor

Peter is the editor of Velora and oversees Velora’s editorial strategy and content standards, bringing nearly 20 years of cycling journalism to the site. He was editor of Cyclingnews from 2022, introducing its digital membership strategy and expanding its content pillars. Before that he was digital editor at Cyclist and then Rouleur having joined Cyclist in 2012 after freelance work for titles including The Times and The Telegraph. He has reported from Grand Tours and WorldTour races, and previously represented Great Britain as a rower.