Agnieszka Skalniak-Sójka continued her impressive debut for the team after today’s stage two of UAE Tour Women. Strong crosswinds played havoc with the peloton from the very first kilometre of the 133km stage. Within a few minutes, three groups formed and it took more than 80 kilometres for that race scenario to change.

Agnieszka was in the front group of 19 riders and took first and second, respectively, in the two intermediate sprints. As the front group slowly swelled to 100 riders, she turned her role to domestique to help the team lead Sarah Roy in the bunch sprint.

“It was a tough stage. Right from the start, some teams did a full lead out after kilometre zero. We were all there and well-positioned, but at one point, I looked around and saw that it was just me left in the group. I went for the intermediate sprints because I hoped to take over the jersey, and it makes me happy that I could do it for the team. I feel really good here and I hope I can keep the jersey again tomorrow,” explained Agnieszka.

As the peloton came into the final kilometres, road captain Tiffany Cromwell led the team to the front to split the group one more time with less than 12 kilometres remaining. The sprint was then made from a group of 45 riders with Sarah sprinting to 10th place.

Going into tomorrow’s queen stage, Sarah is 8th on GC at +16, the same time as teammates Elise Chabbey and Soraya Paladin.

HOW TO WATCH

The UAE Tour Women can be followed on Twitter with #UAETourWomen and #UCIWWT. The stages are broadcast live on Dubai Sports from km 0 and on GCN and Eurosport at 11:50CET.

Stage 3 | Hazza Bin Zayed Stadium – Jebel Hafeet | 107km

Stage 4 | Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies Sport Academy – Abu Dhabi Breakwater | 119km

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