Primoz Roglic held off Tom Dumoulin to clinch victory on stage six of the UAE Tour.
The Slovakian remains the leader in the General Classification ahead of Saturday’s final stage from Dubai Safari Park to Dubai City Walk.
Here are three takeaways and observations from day six.
ROGLIC REIGNS SUPREME
An incredible stage.
It finished with a thrilling sprint at the top of Jebel Jais – the highest point of the UAE Tour – between the two strongest General Classification riders.
Tom Dumoulin reeled in Dan Martin’s late break and looked on course for a maiden stage win of the season, but Roglic showed his class to zip past the Dutchman metres before the line to clinch victory.
The 29-year-old extends his lead in the red jersey to 31 seconds ahead of second place Alejandro Valverde, who could only manage to cross the finish line in fifth.
It’s been a thrilling week for Team Jumbo-Vista who showed tremendous team-work, confidence and strength since the time-trial on stage one to put the Slovakian into a formidable GC position and allow him to finish comfortably in the peloton all week.
Barring incident on Saturday, Roglic is sure to be the overall winner.
PORTE OUT OF SORTS
It’s unfortunate we didn’t see the best of Richie Porte in the Emirates this week.
With 4.5km to go on stage six, the Australian was struggling under the severe pace of the peloton on the climb to Jebel Jais and dropped back momentarily. He responded to secure a top-30 finish but at no point throughout the week did he look in contention for any of the stages. His next best finish was 60th on stage three.
The 34-year-old was not in the form he would have liked to be in and perhaps that is because he is still early in his respective programme for the season ahead which – like Chris Froome and Vincenzo Nibali – aims to peak for the Tour de France in July.
Porte is not getting any younger and certainly has the skills to win a Grand Tour, being both an outstanding climber and strong time triallist, but if he can’t win one this year, it may never happen.
HOME COMFORTS
UAE Team Emirates star Martin produced his second top-five finish of the week after finishing fifth at Jebel Hafeet on stage three.
The Irishman was first to make the break about 300m out from the line on stage six, but was hauled back by Dumoulin who could only manage second, while Martin himself crossed the line in fourth.
The 32-year-old may have jumped a bit early but his strong result represents a significant boost for UAE Team Emirates, with a potential seventh place in the GC now all but confirmed.
Although Martin would have preferred a top-five, his performances on the soaring climbs of Jebel Hafeet and Jebel Jais will be a boost ahead of crucial spring classic events over the coming weeks.
