Jasper Philipsen wins another stage sprint at the UAE Tour

Philipsen edged out Olav Kooij (Jumbo-Visma) and Sam Bennett (Bora-Hansgrohe) to win stage 5 of the UAE Tour

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 on Sunday.

VIDEO: 2022 UAE Tour Stage 5 Highights

2022 UAE Tour Stage 5 Top 10

1 Jasper Philipsen (Bel) Alpecin-Fenix 04:17:05
2 Olav Kooij (Ned) Jumbo-Visma
3 Sam Bennett (Irl) Bora-Hansgrohe
4 Matteo Malucelli (Ita) Gazprom-Rusvelo
5 Rudy Barbier (Fra) Israel-Premier Tech
6 Elia Viviani (Ita) Ineos Grenadiers
7 Arnaud Demare (Fra) Groupama-FDJ
8 Alberto Dainese (Ita) Team DSM
9 Max Kanter (Ger) Movistar
10 Marc Brustenga (Spa) Trek-Segafredo

2022 UAE Tour GC after Stage 5

1 Tadej Pogacar (Slo) UAE Team Emirates 18:19:37
2 Filippo Ganna (Ita) Ineos Grenadiers 00:00:04
3 Aleksandr Vlasov (Rus) Bora-Hansgrohe 00:00:14
4 Adam Yates (GBr) Ineos Grenadiers 00:00:17
5 Neilson Powless (USA) EF Education-Easypost 00:00:25
6 Joao Almeida (Por) UAE Team Emirates 00:00:30
7 Pello Bilbeo (Spa) Bahrain Victorious 00:00:37
8 Oscar Rodriguez (Spa) Movistar 00:00:40
9 Ruben Guerreiro (Por) EF Education-Easypost 00:00:42
10 Geoffrey Bouchard (Fra) AG2R Citroen 00:00:43