UAE Tour: Jasper Philipsen takes second stage win in Al Marjan Island

Alpecin - Fenix have once again struck gold as their sprinter Jasper Philipsen has once again taken a brilliant win at the UAE Tour. The Belgian sprinter thrived in the chaotic finale to beat Sam Bennett to the line, in a finale marked by Tadej Pogacar's puncture that almost cost him the race lead.

The breakaway of the day set off with the Gazprom - Rusvelo trio Pavel Kochetkov, Dmitry Strakhov and Michael Kurkle, along Alessandro Tonelli (Bardiani-CSF-Faizanè). With echelons early on, the breakaway was caught with 129 kilometers to go, but when things calmed down the same group went up the road, only with Bardiani's Johnatan Canaveral replacing Michael Kukrle.

Again, that breakaway was caught with 46 kilometers to go and soon after once again Michael Kukrle attacked with 28 kilometers to go, this move was more of a threat as the peloton very quickly gave him a lead of 2:30 minutes, closed with just 3 kilometers to go.

Panic stations were on in the final kilometers, as race leader Tadej Pogacar punctured with six kilometers to go, however with the help of the convoy and some teammates he managed to get back to the peloton and stay in the race lead.

The leadout fight was understandibly wild once again, with dozens of riders hitting the front in absolute chaos. In the final kilometer Israel - Premier Tech soared through placing Rudy Barbier well positioned, Danny van Poppel emerged from behind leading out Sam Bennett who then made this dash for the line but without the speed necessary to keep Jasper Philipsen behind, finishing third as Jumbo-Visma's Olav Kooij finished second.