It quickly became clear in the third stage that the teams were aiming for a bunch sprint. Thanks to the controlling work of the peloton, with the yellow-and-black formation visible at the front, the breakaway had little chance of success.

In the finale, the race did open up, with riders like Margaux Vigié actively pushing at the front. However, a large peloton made its way through the streets of Abu Dhabi, setting the stage for a sprint finish. In the hectic final kilometer, 21-year-old Veenhoven managed to position herself well at the front before sprinting to fourth place.

“It was a chaotic finale,” Veenhoven reflected. “The day started calmly, but as in the past few days, the final kilometers were hectic once again. Our team rode a strong race, but unfortunately we lost contact with each other in the closing kilometers. I ended up in the wind a little too early, but I’m happy with the result.”

The young sprinter, who achieved her first podium of the season in the second stage, sees the team continuing to grow. “Where the first day didn’t go so well, we managed to regroup as a team. We kept working hard, and I’m pleased that yesterday and today we delivered two solid results. Hopefully, we can finish the week on a high note tomorrow.”