The sprinter teams continuously controlled the ride over 148 kilometres. Tony Martin led the peloton for almost the entire stage. The breakaway was reeled in at about ten kilometres from the finish. Team Jumbo-Visma took the initiative in the hectic final and positioned Groenewegen well in the final kilometre. Eventually, the German Pascal Ackermann sprinted to victory in the Dubai Silicon Oasis.

“Dylan was in good position at the last roundabout. Just as we wanted it”, sports director Addy Engels said. “After that, he got boxed in however. He may have ridden the fastest sprint, but that doesn’t count of course. All in all, the team rode very well.”

Groenewegen underlined the words of his sports director. “I became boxed in so that I could no longer emerge at the right time. Sometimes you have to be lucky with that. Fortunately, plenty of new sprint opportunities are on the way.”

Timo Roosen admitted that the preparation for the sprint did not go to plan. “Teams came from all sides. We kept the left side open. Dylan was in a good position, but still he got boxed in because several teams chose the left.”