UAE Team Emirates rider Alexander Kristoff won a record fourth Eschborn-Frankfurt race on Tuesday to follow his stage victories in Oman and Abu Dhabi already this season.
The Norwegian timed his finish to perfection to clinch the 212-kilometre race in Germany from Australian Michael Matthews of Team Sunweb and Belgian Oliver Naesen of Ag2r La Mondiale.
In doing so, the European champion beat German Erik Zabel's record of three victories, which came in 1999, 2002 and 2005.
"This is a race that is particularly adapted to me," said Kristoff adding to his victories in the one-day race in 2014, 2016 and 2017.
Kristoff proved himself the fastest man in a sprint even after organisers changed the course this year, increasing the total climbing of the route to 3,500 metres.
"This edition of the race had more climbing than normal and I knew it would be harder,” said Kristoff after crossing the finishing line 5 hours,13 minutes, 25 seconds.
"In the second loop, I didn’t feel so strong and I was about to be dropped, but thanks to my teammates, [Oliviero] Troia and [Filippo] Ganna, I was able to hang in there.
"In the last two laps on the traditional circuit, my feelings changed and I began to believe I could win.
"The team worked very well from the start and I couldn’t have done this without them."
“It’s great to get back to winning ways after my last victory back in February and great to have made race history with a fourth consecutive win.”
UAE Team Emirates will now continue their UCI World Tour season at the Giro d’Italia from May 4-27.
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Emirati cyclist wins Outstanding UAE Athlete of 2017 award
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Race Results
1. Alexander Kristoff (Nor) UAE Team Emirates 5-13-25
2. Michael Matthews (Aus) Team Sunweb
3. Oliver Naesen (Bel) Ag2r La Mondiale, at same time
4. Andrea Pasqualon (Ita) Wanty-Groupe Gobert, at 1s
5. Sean De Bie (Bel) Veranda’s Willems Crelan
6. Grega Bole (Slo) Bahrain-Meridaat, at same time
7. Sam Bennett (Irl) Bora-Hansgrohe, at 2s
8. Edvald Boasson Hagen (Nor) Dimension Data
9. Jan Tratnik (Slo) CCC Sprandi Polkowice
10. Juan Jose Lobato (Spa) Nippo-Vini Fantini, all same time
