PREVIEW | UAE Tour 2023 stage 5 - Round 3 for pure sprinters

Preview. UAE Tour is a race that is very suited to the sprinters, and stage 5 will provide another opportunity for the fast men to have uncontested chances to fight for a win.

Stage five will be a similar day to the previous sprint days. The race organizers have created a route passing through the cities of the area, with plenty changes in direction over 182 kilometers to end in a city similar to all the other finishes, in Umm al Quwain.

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And from the sprint all that can be expected is high speeds. There will be two roundabouts to take into consideration, with 1 and 2.5 kilometers to go respectively. Nevertheless it's a fully straightforward finale, ideal for the pure sprinters.

The Weather

A breeze from the north. It won't be too strong, but it will be felt and almost in the ideal direction to cause crosswinds throughout some middle sections of the stage. However the final kilometers will see a headwind. The finale straight into it, will definitely mean different tactics in the sprint.

The Favourites

Is there really a favourite for this stage? No. I think the answer is very clear and today's sprint only showed exactly what I had in mind, these wins will largely be based on who gets to be on the right wheels and with over a dozen world-class sprinters on the start line that will be something that can't be predicted well. With the headwind and more simple finale stage 5 may be better for leadouts to perform as they train for, but it will still be small effect.

All sprinters who were at the front on stage 4 virtually had no leadout, following the right wheels and not having to rely on teammates will be crucial here. It's not an easy task, specially for those who come with several riders around them. You have Sam Bennett, Caleb Ewan, Dylan Groenewegen and Tim Merlier who arguably have the fastest leadouts. Will they be able to change their plans however?

In the field of those who have decent leadouts, but may also have to opt out of their wheel you have Arnaud Démare, Mark Cavendish, Phil Bauhaus and Gerben Thijssen. There's real speed in this trio, but it's all about positioning, having them all outside the Top10 would be no surprise.

Then within the field of riders who have a very modest leadout but have been sprinting just fine, which includes the best on today's sprint. Olav Kooij, Fernando Gaviria, Sam Welsford, Arvid de Kleijn, Juan Sebastián Molano, Elia Viviani, Marijn van den Berg and Itamar Einhorn are all includes here.

Prediction UAE Tour 2023 stage 5:

*** Olav Kooij, Sam Bennett
** Dylan Groenewegen, Tim Merlier, Fernando Gaviria
* Caleb Ewan, Arnaud Démare, Mark Cavendish, Phil Bauhaus, Gerben Thijssen, Sam Welsford, Juan Sebastián Molano, Arvid de Kleijn

Pick: Sam Bennett