From February 17th to 23rd, the UAE Tour 2025 will take place. It is the second World Tour stage-race of the year and will feature plenty of stars in the field of the sprinters and also climbers - headlined by Tadej Pogacar. We preview stage 4.
Starting from Fujairah Qidfa Beach to reach Umm Al Quwain, the stage crosses the desert areas on the edge of the Hajar Mountains. Here it covers several stretches of highway until reaching Umm Al Quwain for the final sprint. The entire route is on wide, straight, well-paved roads through the desert.
Stage 4: Fujairah Qidfa Beach - Umm Al Quwain, 180 kilometers
The sprint is going to be a simple one, with two small roundabouts inside the final 2.7 kilometers but they are not big... Sprinter's paradise, it will all be about timing on this day, a simple sprint that will demand sharp tactics from all leadouts.
The Weather
Map UAE Tour 2025 stage 4
Rain may even fall, which would make for a relatively interesting sight in the desert country. The wind will be blowing from the north with meaningful strength and this can potentially create tension with the possibility of crosswinds. Definitely throughout the day there will be some sections where this is a realistic threat and the GC teams will stay close to the front to avoid being caught out.
The Favourites
We've got a traditional bunch sprint awaiting and it gives us the chance to look at the leadouts present in this race, focusing on it's head. Below I put them down in the order of quality - and this will be crucial because with such pan-flat days, the speeds will be crazy in the finale and every single sprinters and their leadouts will try to be in front. Many won't be able to, and so emerging to the sprint in the right place will be crucial for deciding the winner.
Sam Welsford - Danny van Poppel - Ryan Mullen
Jonathan Milan - Simone Consonni - Edward Theuns - Daan Hoole
Tim Merlier - Bert van Lerberghe - Casper Pedersen
Jasper Philipsen - Jonas Rickaert - Robbe Ghys
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Dylan Groenewegen - Luka Mezgec - Max Walscheid - Elmar Reinders
Arvid de Kleijn - Maikel Ziljaard
Fabio Jakobsen - Tobias Lund Andresen
Fernando Gaviria, Gerben Thijssen, Phil Bauhaus, Matteo Malucelli, Lionel Taminiaux and Oded Kogut will also be sprinters to keep under eye - whilst the chaos of such a crowded bunh sprint can definitely at some point benefit these riders who will just look to follow the main sprinters instead of focusing on a big block.
Prediction UAE Tour 2025 stage 4:
*** Jonathan Milan, Tim Merlier, Jasper Philipsen
** Sam Welsford, Arvid de Kleijn
* Dylan Groenewegen, Fabio Jakobsen, Tobias Lund Andresen, Fernando Gaviria, Phil Bauhaus, Gerben THijssen, Matteo Malucelli
** Sam Welsford, Arvid de Kleijn
* Dylan Groenewegen, Fabio Jakobsen, Tobias Lund Andresen, Fernando Gaviria, Phil Bauhaus, Gerben THijssen, Matteo Malucelli
Pick: Jonathan Milan
How: Milan's leadout truly is incredible and although I think BORA's is just as good, the Italian will have the perfect combo to win again.
Original: Rúben Silva
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The UAE Tour is now just days away, we sat down with some of the riders taking part to get their thoughts 💭 #UAETour @AbuDhabiSC@ihc__official@Mubadala@NakheelOfficial@aldar pic.twitter.com/m0S4ki4ob8
— UAE Tour Official (@uae_tour) February 13, 2025
Rúben SilvaEditor-in-Chief
A founding contributor to CyclingUpToDate since its launch in January 2022, Ruben Silva has played a central role in shaping the site’s editorial direction and long-term growth. Before joining the project, he built his experience through independent blogging at Echelons Hub and by producing race previews for Ciclismo Internacional, developing a strong analytical voice rooted in daily engagement with professional cycling.
Beyond editorial work, he has been closely involved in the expansion and coordination of CyclingUpToDate’s wider network, helping establish and support sister platforms across multiple languages. This includes ongoing collaboration with CiclismoAlDia (Spanish), CiclismoAtual (Portuguese), WielrennenUpToDate (Dutch), and RadsportAktuell (German), contributing to a shared editorial vision and consistent international coverage.
He also helps oversee editorial governance across the network, setting standards for accuracy and consistency and coordinating updates or corrections when needed.
Originally from the Porto metropolitan area in Portugal, he holds a bachelor’s degree in Geography. His path into cycling journalism was shaped not through formal media training, but through independent reporting, community engagement, and sustained on-the-ground involvement in the sport.
Over the course of his career, he has conducted approximately 100 interviews across road cycling and cyclocross, ranging from one-to-one conversations and online formats to press conferences and on-site pre- and post-race coverage. His interviews include leading riders, team managers, and prominent figures within cycling media: Tadej Pogacar, Jonas Vingegaard, Mathieu van der Poel, Primoz Roglic, Wout van Aert, Joao Almeida and Tom Pidcock; managers like Patrick Lefevere and Joxean Matxin; and YouTube personality Bryan Kennedy (BKXC)...
Within 18 months of launch, he helped grow CyclingUpToDate’s English-language platform into one of the most-read cycling news websites, built entirely from the ground up. As both a professional journalist and lifelong cycling enthusiast, his focus remains on delivering accurate, timely, and well-contextualized coverage.
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- But on what is that opinion based? Are you holding him to a different standard than others? Are you saying he should do learn to like something he doesn’t Are you saying he hasn’t achieved enough Are you saying he pretends to be better than his results? It’s actually a really strange opinion to oust if you consider it objectively or rationally. Try applying it to others or yourself by asking if not EVERYONE should then be doing more? Nobody in athletics or swimming gets criticism for not expanding their repertoire when a rival or someone else does. In fact, most who move to another event get accused of running from their rival. Opinions are boring, the reasons behind them are what count.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- for a medical chief to throw things like is just bad. There are already radios which were banned for spectacle. allow radios. Gps trackers are not a complete solutionabstractengineer07-11-2026
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- My memories of Ivan Basso aren't good but I liked his sister Elisa ok.flyer07-11-2026
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