Dylan Groenewegen battled through a sandstorm and overcame a nail-biting bunch sprint to take the stage four of the UAE Tour at the Dubai City Walk on Wednesday.
The Jumbo Visma rider got the better of the UAE Team Emirates’ Fernando Gaviria in the 173km flat course to deny the home team a stage success for the second successive day.
Bora Hansgrohe’s Pascal Ackermann, winner of the opening stage of the Tour, took third spot ahead of Sam Bennett of Deceuninck-QuickStep and Caleb Ewan of Lotto Soudal, the runner up and winner of Stage 2, respectively.
“This one is really nice, all the sprinters are here, including myself,” Groenewegen, who recorded his third win of the season, said.
“On the first day, I was not in the best position to make the sprint, but we saw that the speed was really good.
“So today was a little bit different. In the last corner, I was in a really good position and we took the win, so that’s really nice.
“The team did a very good job in the last three kilometres. We made a move there. They did a really strong lead-out to bring me to the last corner. Then I was on the wheel of Bennett and, yeah, it was a good position.”
Gaviria was involved in a low speed crash earlier in the race but recovered and finished well for the second place.
“It was a fast stage with a tail wind for most of the day,” the Colombian said. “The team worked well together and were always by my side.
“We went for the win and we came very close. The level of sprinters here is very high so I’m pleased with my result and it gives me confidence for the next sprint to know that the form is there.”
The general classification remained unchanged with Mitchelton-Scott’s Adam Yates on the top followed by the UAE Team Emirates Tadej Pogacar and Alexey Lutsenko of Astana Pro Team.
“Apart from a bit of a fright when I avoided a crash, I had a good day on the bike,” Yates said after finishing safely in the peloton.
“We rode at the end for our young sprinter Kaden Groves (sixth). I hope to have the same legs tomorrow as yesterday (winning stage three at the Jebel Hafeet).”
The British rider holds a one minute and seven seconds' lead over second-placed Pogocar as they head towards Jebel Hafeet for the second time for the 162km stage five in Al Ain on Thursday.
“The time difference is never enough but I'm in a good condition and this climb (Jebel Hafeet) suits me as everyone realised yesterday,” Yates said.
“I got confirmation that my training has been good for my first block of racing from here until the Tour of the Basque Country. Later I'll target the Tour de France and the Olympics.”
