Khor Fakkan, 28 February 2019 – The Italian rider, Elia Viviani (Deceuninck – Quick-Step), has won in a bunch sprint Stage 5, the Sharjah Stage, of the inaugural edition of the UAE Tour, ahead of Fernando Gaviria (UAE Team Emirates) and Marcel Kittel (Team Katusha Alpecin). Primoz Roglic (Team Jumbo – Visma) remains the GC leader and wore the Red Jersey on the podium.
STAGE RESULT
1 – Elia Viviani (Deceuninck – Quick-Step), 181km in 4h48’59”, average speed 37.580km/h
2 – Fernando Gaviria (UAE Team Emirates) s.t.
3 – Marcel Kittel (Team Katusha Alpecin) s.t.
JERSEYS
The Red Jersey, sponsored by Emirates (General individual classification by time) – Primoz Roglic (Team Jumbo – Visma)
The Green Jersey, sponsored by ADNOC (General individual classification by points) – Stepan Kuriyanov (Gazprom – RusVelo)
The White Jersey, sponsored by Nakheel (Best Young Rider born after 1 January 1994) – David Gaudu (Groupama – FDJ)
The Black Jersey, sponsored by Abu Dhabi Aviation (Intermediate Sprint Jersey Classification) – Stepan Kuriyanov (Gazprom – RusVelo)
GENERAL CLASSIFICATION
1 – Primoz Roglic (Team Jumbo – Visma)
2 – Alejandro Valverde (Movistar Team) at 21?
3 – David Gaudu (Groupama – FDJ) at 38?
Speaking seconds after the stage finish, the stage winner, Elia Viviani, said: “After the successful season I had last year and Fernando [Gaviria] not being our teammate anymore, it’s great to still win because he’s the world’s best sprinter and the hardest to beat. So I’m glad we did it as a team today after losing stage 2 to him. My lead-out train worked really well in this chaotic finish. We took the right decision to not spend more energy than needed yesterday and focus exclusively on today.”
The Red Jersey, Primoz Roglic, said: “As expected, it was a long day in the saddle but I didn’t really get bored because we always had to be attentive in the desert with the crosswinds. Again, our team did a great job, who protected my [leading] time. For sure, we’re ready for tomorrow’s decisive stage.”
Press conference interviews and further details to follow.
TOMORROW’S STAGE
Stage 6 – RAK PROPERTIES STAGE – Ajman-Jebel Jais – 180km
This, the second of the two mountain stages, is likely to be the decisive stage of the UAE Tour. Like Stage 3, it is divided into two distinct parts: the first is a flat approach to the final climb; the second is about 20km of continuous ascent until the finish line. After departure from Ajman, the route crosses Umm-al-Quwain heading towards Ras-al-Khaimah, whose capital is by-passed, as the race heads directly to Jais Mountain. The final 20km climb averages at 5%, and is generally constant with only slightly higher gradients of around 7% in the last 2km.
Final Km
The final climb includes wide hairpins on a very wide carriageway. Gradient is mostly 4-5% in the first part of the climb and around 5-7% in the second, with a maximum of 9% at 2km to go. Final straight on tarmac.
#UAETOUR
Photo Credit: LaPresse / Ferrari – Paolone
