![\"Evenepoel](\"https:\/\/velo.outsideonline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Copy-of-VLAB-2.jpeg\")
<\/p>\nDel Toro second on savage Jebel Mobrah summit after late chase falls short as Evenepoel crumbles out of GC picture.<\/p>\n
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(Photo: Getty Images )<\/p>\n
Updated February 18, 2026 08:36AM<\/p>\n
Antonio Tiberi (Bahrain Victorious) rode a long and painful time trial up the brutal Jebel Mobrah climb to win stage 3 of the UAE Tour<\/a> and move into the lead of the race.<\/p>\n Isaac del Toro<\/a> (UAE Emirates-XRG) finished second on the sprawling, sunbaked summit Wednesday after he launched a huge late chase across its grueling 12 percent ramps.<\/p>\n The 22-year-old plowed through the scattered peloton after he had initially appeared out of position but fell 15 seconds short of catching Tiberi and his climbing masterclass.<\/p>\n Former UAE Tour champion Lennert van Eetvelt (Lotto-Intermarch\u00e9) came across third.<\/p>\n Overnight race leader and pre-race favorite Remco Evenepoel<\/a> (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) cracked on the unforgiving slopes and hemorrhaged more than two minutes on what was easily the toughest climb of the season so far.<\/p>\n It was a savage turnaround for the 26-year-old after he unleashed a time trialing storm<\/a> only 24 hours earlier.<\/p>\n \u201cAt the foot of the climb, I already had cramps coming on,\u201d Evenepoel told Het Nieuwsblad<\/a> at the finish. \u201cThat\u2019s something I haven\u2019t experienced often. Maybe from yesterday\u2019s effort, which I hadn\u2019t fully recovered from.<\/p>\n \u201cI didn\u2019t have the best night either. I woke up from the heat,\u201d he said. \u201cBut ultimately, I can\u2019t make excuses.\u201d<\/p>\n Jebel Mobrah delivers cruel early-season test Wednesday\u2019s Jebel Mobrah summit finish had been touted as one of the toughest ascents of the entire pro calendar.<\/p>\n The unprecedented climb sprawls across 15km of sun-parched tarmac and reaches boiling point with a heinous 7km, 12 percent finale.<\/p>\n The tarmac wall did the expected damage.<\/p>\n Evenepoel\u2019s first true climbing test as a Red Bull rider delivered a ruthless verdict as the Belgian appeared to overheat and then went backward.<\/p>\n Only Del Toro is within a minute of Tiberi on GC after the huge climbing shakeup on Wednesday.<\/p>\n Top climbers Adam Yates (UAE Emirates-XRG), Michael Storer (Tudor), and Ben O\u2019Connor (Jayco-AlUla) all lost time.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n The hardest climb ever used in a UCI race in February? \ud83e\uddd0\ud83d\ude31 Tomorrow, the riders of UAE Tour go for the first time on Jebel Mobrah with the last 7 km averaging 12%. Good night! #UAETour<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/zHeKtSurXh<\/a><\/p>\n
\n![\"Evenepoel](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/GettyImages-2262286002-1200x800.jpg\"\/)
Evenepoel blew up on Jebel Mobrah. (Photo: Tim de Waele\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n
![\"Tim](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/GettyImages-2262284751-1200x800.jpg\"\/)
Tiberi formed one of the early attack groups and rode all his rivals off his wheel.<\/p>\n