The fast men returned in the spotlight after two days.
Despite his heavy crash Wednesday and after consultation with the medical team overnight and this morning, Mark Cavendish decided to be at the start line on stage 5 of the UAE Tour, which took place between Ras al Khaimah and the Al Marjan Island, over 182 kilometers.
The stage was completely flat, but it didn’t follow the familiar pattern, as crosswinds offered plenty of opportunity to race aggressively, small echelons formed near the front of the peloton, not once, not twice, but three times. Several GC-orientated teams tried and successfully split the field, but a regrouping took place every time, and not long after the last of these, the bunch agreed on slowing down and going for a mass gallop.
The victory on the Al Marjan Island went to Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Fenix), while Mark Cavendish couldn’t get in the mix for a good result due to an inopportune mechanical inside the last kilometer. For the sprinters, there will be one more opportunity, on Saturday’s stage to Dubai, before the Jebel Hafeet summit finish which will set in stone the general classification.
Photo credit: ©Tim De Waele / Getty Images
