PREVIEW | UAE Tour 2024 stage 6 - Tim Merlier and Olav Kooij's final bunch sprint battle; Cavendish, Jakobsen, Welsford, Groenewegen, Gaviria and others in need to save race

Preview. Tim Merlier and Olav Kooij have so far won the three bunch sprints available at the UAE Tour. Stage 6 will be yet another bunch sprint - the last one fo the race, where the sprinters have their final chance of succeeding.

100 meters of climbing on a day for the sprinters. Stage around the city of Abu Dhabi. Starting from Louvre Abu Dhabi, the first part of the course heads to Saadiyat Island and then to Yas Marina, where the race continues west before re-entering the city through Khalifa City. It returns to Abu Dhabi City and passes over Al Reem Island (Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi) and Al Maryah Island. Passing through Qasr Al Hosn, riders will approach the finish from south to north, finishing at Abu Dhabi Breakwater.

This will be another very simple sprint without any technical features or gradients to mention. A pure flat sprint for the specialist leadouts, by the sea where the wind may change the plans of some.

The Weather

Another day racing in an urban area. Not solely, so the northwestern wind may create some tension specially in the first hour of the race. However most likely the rest of the day will be calm - as most so far have been. All-in for the sprint, the sprint should not be exposed to the wind and so a regular bunch sprint is expected.

The Favourites

Tim Merlier - Although he did not take the win on stage 5 Merlier still showed his best level. The Belgian is on fire this week and loves the type of racing that has been deciding the sprints. There isn't a single argument against Merlier to be in the fight for victory in the final sprint of the race - and he has a points classification to defend.

Olav Kooij - Third and first in the last two bunch sprints, the Dutchman has finally clicked the pieces together. These are chaotic sprints, but it seems like he is not too dependent on the leadout. Although he likes some climbing, in a pure flat and fast sprint he's shown to be able to beat the best around.

Sam Welsford has not had a typical BORA leadout but was at his best today. He's got the speed and maybe got the confidence from today's sprint. I do expect a very strong Australian, he can win if he has positioning. Arvid de Kleijn, Jakub Mareczko and Fabio Jakobsen have had a few good performances throughout the week and should be in the fight for the podium as well.

With no soft words: Dylan Groenewegen, Mark Cavendish, Sam Bennett and Elia Viviani have shown nothing in this race. Together, these four riders have a total of one Top10 result throughout three bunch sprints. They have nothing to lose and absolutely need to at least be in a Top5 to in some way save face in a race that is designed for the sprinters. Kaden Groves, Juan Sebastián Molano, Fernando Gaviria and Phil Bauhaus are also in a similar position; not as bad but definitely not having the results sheet they would hope for. Pressure is very high for these men.

Simone Consonni, Phil Bauhaus, Jarno Van de Paar, Stanislaw Aniolkowski, Milan Fretin, Pascal Ackermann and Arne Marit will be other riders to eye for the final sprint.

Prediction UAE Tour 2024 stage 6:

*** Tim Merlier, Olav Kooij
** Sam Welsford, Arvid de Kleijn
* Jakub Mareczko, Fabio Jakobsen, Dylan Groenewegen, Kaden Groves, Fernando Gaviria, Simone Consonni

Pick: Tim Merlier

Preview written by Rúben Silva.