A frustrated Yousif Mirza rued yet another missed opportunity for UAE Team Emirates after they failed to get their leader Alexander Kristoff first over the finish line atop Hatta Dam in the Dubai Tour fourth stage on Friday.
Kristoff, the reigning European champion, has engaged in tight sprint battled over the past few days on the roads of the UAE but is still searching for that maiden victory with the Emirati outfit.
The Norwegian heads into Saturday’s fifth and final stage in eighth place in the GC standings and Mirza is hopeful they home team can finish the Dubai Tour on a high note.
“We worked all day for Alex so we could get our first win of the season but it wasn’t meant to be,” the Emirati rider told Sport360 as he gasped for air following a gruelling finish in Hatta.
“We still have a fifth chance to do it. It’s a flat stage and perhaps our best chance to get the win.”
Kristoff took fourth place in Friday’s Hatta Stage behind Sonny Colbrelli, Magnus Cort Nielsen and Timo Roosen. He was seventh on stages two and three. UAE Team Emirates have been riding for Kristoff all week but the taste of victory is yet to come for the 30-year-old sprinter.
“Honestly we did everything we could today, we put in a huge effort,” said Mirza, a local who knows this climb like the back of his hand and who crossed the finish line in 24thplace.
“For Alex, there really isn’t anything missing for him to grab a victory. The entire team is working for him. He’s our leader. But Bahrain-Merida did a better job today. The climb made all the difference in the end. Sonny had two riders ready to help him in the final 200m. It’s only 200m but as you can see it’s a very steep climb. So the first team to get there will of course get the win.”
Kristoff was not too disappointed with how things unfolded, saying: “I’m pretty satisfied with fourth place. Whilst a podium position would have been a great way to end a great race, I prefer to focus my attention on the fact that I’m producing consistent performances in the top 10.”
“My team-mates were fantastic leading me to the approach of Hatta Dam, especially Sven Erik Bystrom and Matteo Bono who both did a really impressive job. My legs were fairly good, but maybe the final few metres were too heavy for me.”
