Sacha Modolo clinches podium win in stage 3 at the Three Days of De Panne as Yousif Mirza successfully defends title at the Gulf Cooperation Council Games

Sunday, 02 April 2017, United Arab Emirates: Italian rider Sacha Modolo, UAE Team Emirates, secured a podium place at stage 3a of Three Days of De Panne (De Panne-De Panne, 118.5 km) finishing in third place. The Italian rider has previously won two stages of the race in 2014 and will be heading to compete at the Tour of Flanders on Sunday, 2nd April. While in the UAE, Yousif Mirza won first place at the Gulf Cooperation Council games for the second year in a row.  

Modolo’s standing is the third top five result for UAE Team Emirates in the race as Consonni clinched a podium position in the opening stage and Guardini placed 5th in the second stage.

Daniele Righi, Sporting Director of UAE Team Emirates commented: “The final General Classification results reflects the quality of the team line-up in addition to their efforts. Having three of our riders place in the top 15 overall with Consonni finishing 13th, Modolo 14th and Marcato 15th and three top five places in four stages is a really good achievement. We have heard nothing but great things about the determination and great form of all of our riders and we look forward to what is next and have all the confidence and faith in Marcato as he leads the team at the Tour of Flanders.” 

Whilst UAE Team Emirates raced in Europe, Emirati teammate Yousif Mirza defended his title at the Gulf Cooperation Council Games time trial on Saturday, 1st April. He won the 30km race 35 seconds ahead of Mohamed Al Murawi in second place and 36 seconds head of his brother Badr Mirza in third, successfully defending his title two years in a row.

UAE Team Emirates’ rider Yousif Mirza commented: 'I'm really happy, firstly because I succeeded in defending the title I had won in last season and secondly because the course difficult and demanding. I managed to conserve my energy with consistent speed and my legs felt good for the duration of the course. I'm looking forward to participating again and doing well in the Road National Championship scheduled for April 7th. I am the National Champion and I would very much like to retain that title be able to wear the UAE champion kit representing my country all around the world.'

UAE Team Emirates is racing at the Tour of Flanders on Sunday, 2 April, the Vuelta al Pais Vasco on Monday, 3 April until 9 April. While teammate Yousif Mirza will be racing at the Road National Championship on Friday, 7 April.

Final General Classification Race Results for Three Days of De Panne 

1    Philippe Gilbert (Bel) Quick-Step Floors             12:08:57
2    Matthias Brändle (Aut) Trek-Segafredo                0:00:38
3    Alexander Kristoff (Nor) Katusha-Alpecin             0:00:43
13  Simone Consonni (Ita) UAE Team Emirates      0:04:15
14  Sacha Modolo (Ita) UAE Team Emirates            0:04:51
15  Marco Marcato (Ita) UAE Team Emirates           0:04:57