Belgian Van Eetvelt Hits the Heights to Claim UAE Tour

UAE Tour winner Lennert Van Eetvelt only turned professional last year © Giuseppe CACACE / AFP
UAE Tour winner Lennert Van Eetvelt only turned professional last year © Giuseppe CACACE / AFP
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Belgian Van Eetvelt Hits the Heights to Claim UAE Tour

UAE Tour winner Lennert Van Eetvelt only turned professional last year © Giuseppe CACACE / AFP
UAE Tour winner Lennert Van Eetvelt only turned professional last year © Giuseppe CACACE / AFP

Belgium's Lennert Van Eetvelt produced a dramatic summit finish on Jebel Hafeet to claim the final stage and overall victory in the UAE Tour on Sunday.

The 22-year-old Lotto rider powered clear around two kilometres from the line to take the 161km seventh stage by 22 seconds from Pello Bilbao and Ben O'Connor, AFP reported.

With a 10 sec time bonus Van Eetvelt shot to the top of the overall standings, two seconds ahead of Australia's O'Connor, with Bilbao completing the podium.

O'Connor's compatriot, UAE Team Emirates' Jay Vine began the day in the lead but his hopes bit the dust in the closing climb.

"I was expecting a difficult stage," Van Eetvelt said, adding that he had been able to stay on the wheels of the leaders.

"Then when we began the climb I told myself I had to give my all.

"I couldn't be happier," beamed the rider who was adding this to a race win in Mallorca last month.

Van Eetvelt only turned professional last year, making his Grand Tour debut in the Vuelta a Espana where he came in 32nd overall.



Inter Milan Reaches Italian Cup Quarterfinals

Inter Milan's Kristjan Asllani (C) celebrates with teammates after scoring the 2-0 goal during the Italian Cup soccer match between Inter Milan and Udinese at the Giuseppe Meazza Stadium in Milan, Italy, 19 December 2024. EPA/DANIEL DAL ZENNARO
Inter Milan's Kristjan Asllani (C) celebrates with teammates after scoring the 2-0 goal during the Italian Cup soccer match between Inter Milan and Udinese at the Giuseppe Meazza Stadium in Milan, Italy, 19 December 2024. EPA/DANIEL DAL ZENNARO
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Inter Milan Reaches Italian Cup Quarterfinals

Inter Milan's Kristjan Asllani (C) celebrates with teammates after scoring the 2-0 goal during the Italian Cup soccer match between Inter Milan and Udinese at the Giuseppe Meazza Stadium in Milan, Italy, 19 December 2024. EPA/DANIEL DAL ZENNARO
Inter Milan's Kristjan Asllani (C) celebrates with teammates after scoring the 2-0 goal during the Italian Cup soccer match between Inter Milan and Udinese at the Giuseppe Meazza Stadium in Milan, Italy, 19 December 2024. EPA/DANIEL DAL ZENNARO

A much-changed Inter Milan side eased to a 2-0 victory over Udinese in the Italian Cup on Thursday.
Marko Arnautović and Kristjan Asllani netted in the first half to help Inter set up a quarterfinal match against Lazio — the team it routed 6-0 in the league on Monday. Inter coach Simone Inzaghi made eight changes to that side, The Associated Press reported.
The match was briefly halted shortly before halftime when a spectator collapsed in the stands. The fan was immediately treated as the stadium fell into silence and the players looked on, clearly concerned.
A defibrillator had to be used before the fan was carried out on a stretcher to the applause of the San Siro crowd. The fan was reportedly stable in the hospital.
When play resumed after a delay of more than five minutes, the Udinese players still seemed distracted as Asllani’s corner from the left evaded everyone and went in off the far post.
That put Inter 2-0 up as it had broken the deadlock in the 30th minute following an Udinese error. A hideous pass from visiting midfielder Jurgen Ekkelenkamp was straight at Mehdi Taremi and he fed in Arnautović, who slotted into the bottom right corner.
Taremi hit the post in the second half, while Inter also had an early penalty revoked on review.
Teenage defender Mike Aidoo came on two minutes from time for Inter for his professional debut.