The fifth stage was not a spectacular one due to a headwind. The early breakaway was caught in the final, after which the sprint teams took the initiative. Team Jumbo-Visma controlled the stage and never faced any problems.

“It was an unexpectedly tough stage due to the constant headwind. We always had to pay attention and at times the racing was really nervous”, the overall leader said. “But the team again worked really hard and protected me really well all day. Now we are going to focus on the important day of tomorrow. We are ready.”

Tomorrow will be the decisive stage for the overall classification. The sixth stage finishes on top of the Jebel Jais, the highest point of the United Arab Emirates, after a climb of more than twenty kilometres at an average of four percent.