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Chaves wins mountain stage of Abu Dhabi Tour, nabs lead

Esteban Chaves (Colombia/Orica-GreenEdge), who won two stages of the 2015 Vuelta a España and wore the leader’s jersey for six days, triumphed atop the Jebel Hafeet climb on Saturday’s third stage of the Abu Dhabi Tour. Chaves had come to the final corner before the finish line with Wout Poels (The Netherlands/Sky), but Poels crashed to give the Colombian the victory.

Alessandro Bazzana (Italy/UnitedHealthcare) had breakaway company in Rafaâ Chtioui (Skydive Dubai Pro Cycling Team), a Tunisian who has been very busy over the first stages. The duo only could pull 3:00 from the peloton, and Astana’s work lassoed the escapees before the climb.

WorldTour winner Alejandro Valverde (Spain/Movistar) put in the first dig on the opening slopes of the 11-km ascent. With the Spaniard back in the fold, Vincenzo Nibali (Italy/Astana) raced up the road with countryman Gianluca Brambilla (Etixx-QuickStep).

Chaves’ attack tore through the Italians, with Nibali unable to hold the Colombian’s wheel. But Poels and Fabio Aru (Italy/Astana) counterattacked, Poels shed Aru and nabbed Chaves at the red kite. Poels had Chaves in trouble leading to that fateful last corner where the Dutchman fell. Chaves barely celebrated as he hit the line.

With only Sunday’s 110-km criterium at Yas Marina to go, Chaves leads Aru by 16-seconds and Poels by 27-seconds.

2015 Abu Dhabi Tour Stage 3

1) Esteban Chaves (Colombia/Orica-GreenEdge) 5:28:04
2) Fabio Aru (Italy/Astana) +0:12
3) Wout Poels (The Netherlands/Sky) +0:21
31) Christian Meier (Canada/Orica-GreenEdge) +7:21

2015 Abu Dhabi Tour GC

1) Esteban Chaves (Colombia/Orica-GreenEdge) 18:41:12
2) Fabio Aru (Italy/Astana) +0:16
3) Wout Poels (The Netherlands/Sky) +0:27

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