The short 13-kilometre time trial started and ended on the island of Al Hudayriyat. Shortly before the start of the stage, it was announced that David Dekker would start in the red leader’s jersey. The actual leader Mathieu van der Poel and his team left the tour after a positive corona test by a staff member. Dekker was unable to hold on to the leader’s jersey and handed it to Tadej Pogacar at the end of the day. The young Dutchman is still in the top ten of the general classification.

Harper looked back on a good time trial: “I would have liked to be a little faster out there today. I gave everything I had.” He lost half a minute on Pogacar and thus keeps the prospect of a good final classification. “Tomorrow is a tough stage with a hilltop finish. I will try to recover well and give it my all tomorrow again.”

Sports director Addy Engels is positive about Harper and his position in the current general classification. “Chris is our GC rider after yesterday and today. He has held up well and has the prospect of a good final classification. In addition to that, Jonas rode a very strong time trial today.” Jos van Emden finished in fifteenth place, six seconds behind Vingegaard. “Jos started very well, but unfortunately he was unable to continue his pace for the second part of the race”, Engels said.