Abu Dhabi – Isaac del Toro’s aggressive attack on the penultimate stage of the UAE Tour proved too much for race leader Antonio Tiberi, wresting the red jersey from the Bahrain-Victorious rider with just a sprint stage remaining. While the loss is undoubtedly disappointing, Tiberi remains remarkably upbeat, framing the week as a significant step forward in his career and a testament to his improved form.
The decisive moment came in the final 5 kilometers of the climb up Jebel Hafeet. Del Toro launched a sustained attack that initially dropped all but Tiberi, forcing the Italian to expend considerable energy simply to stay within reach. However, a second, more explosive burst of power from the UAE Team Emirates rider proved insurmountable, leaving Tiberi trailing as Del Toro powered to both the stage win and the overall lead.
“For all the team and me, of course, it would have been better to keep this jersey and the leadership, but I gave it all my best,” Tiberi told Cyclingnews, acknowledging the strength of his rival. “Del Toro pushed me to the limit even more to try to defend this jersey, and I can just be proud and happy because I gave all the energy I had in my body until the finish line. I can not do more than this, so congrats to Del Toro that he did a really, really strong effort, and he’s one of the strongest riders in the world right now, so I can just be happy.”
The battle on Jebel Hafeet was, according to Bahrain Victorious’ performance director Rod Ellingworth, a pure contest between two strong climbers. “He didn’t really have a choice, I don’t think, but to follow Del Toro. But I think the main thing was it was just man on man, wasn’t it? So you can’t really change anything,” Ellingworth explained. He emphasized the team’s satisfaction with Tiberi’s effort, noting that there were no tactical missteps or regrets. “If anything happened beforehand which sort of altered the result, then you can be more disappointed, but I think certainly Damiano Caruso said before the day that ‘We don’t have any regrets, and we will give it 100%’ and the boys did, so it’s disappointing, of course, but I think the guys gave it everything.”
This week’s performance marks a significant turning point for Tiberi, who secured his first WorldTour-level victory on stage 3 atop Jebel Mobrah. That win, and his subsequent defense of the red jersey for several stages, demonstrated a maturity and resilience that hadn’t always been apparent in his previous campaigns. Ellingworth believes Tiberi is finally realizing his potential. “I think Antonio has done really well to get where he is and to be on the form he’s on. We’ve put up a good fight, and although yes, we’re disappointed, we’ve got to be happy as well.”
The 24-year-old Italian’s strong showing at the UAE Tour is particularly noteworthy given his recent trajectory. He’s clearly benefiting from a focused winter training regimen and a renewed sense of confidence. Tiberi himself highlighted the positive start to the season, a marked improvement from previous years. “For sure, I look more to the positive things, because I’ve never started a season like this,” he said. “Now, I’ve already won a race – the last time was in the Tour of Hungary [in May] – and it’s here in February, at the UAE Tour, a WorldTour race, so I’m super, super happy about the feelings.”
While the overall victory may now be out of reach, Tiberi is still poised to secure a strong finish in the UAE Tour. The final stage is a flat sprint stage in Abu Dhabi, unlikely to significantly alter the general classification. More importantly, the week has provided valuable confirmation of his progress and established him as a contender in major stage races.
The emergence of Tiberi as a force in the peloton is a welcome development for Bahrain-Victorious, and a signal that the team’s investment in the young Italian is beginning to pay dividends. His ability to challenge a rider of Del Toro’s caliber, and to hold the race lead for several days, demonstrates a level of competitiveness that suggests he is capable of achieving even greater success in the future. The team will undoubtedly look to build on this momentum as the season progresses, with Tiberi likely to be a key figure in their ambitions for the major races to come.
Del Toro’s victory, however, shouldn’t be understated. He has proven himself a formidable climber and a tactical rider capable of exploiting weaknesses in his opponents. The final sprint stage will likely be a battle for stage honors, but the overall lead is firmly in Del Toro’s grasp, marking a significant achievement for the young Mexican rider.
