Favorites stage 5 UAE Tour 2025 | The big names again, but watch out for Visma | Lease a Bike
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Follow us on GoogleThe first days of the UAE Tour did not disappoint. There was a classic sprint, a wonderful time trial featuring the world's top cyclists, Tadej Pogacar, excellent on Jebel Jais, and, on day four, a fierce echelon battle and a nice bunch sprint. Will the fifth day bring something different? It could be a quiet day, with the sprinters at the front of the pack. IDLProCycling.com gives you a detailed preview.
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Course stage 5 UAE Tour 2025
While we had wind on day four, we are not really expecting it on Friday. We start and finish in Dubai, which could be a quiet 160 kilometers. The third chance for the sprinters at the finish is a given. And with all those sprint stages and ambitious sprinters, we also look forward to that.
The day's breakaway riders can again indulge themselves in the battle for the black. Black? Yes, the intermediate sprint classification has a black jersey as an award. Lovely, especially at 30 degrees in the desert. Less important riders have been battling for days, and Friday will be no different. The sprint will once again lead along wide roads, so there is plenty of room for everybody.
Times
Start: 03:55 AM EST
Finish: 07:30 AM EST
Start: 03:55 AM EST
Finish: 07:30 AM EST
Weather stage 5 UAE Tour 2025
The temperature will rise to 29 degrees in the afternoon, so the sun will again win against the clouds. The wind will blow from the north at wind force 3, so as mentioned before, echelons do not seem to be an option.
Favorites stage 5 UAE Tour 2025
Copy paste? We think so. There are many incredibly fast men at the start of this round, and the differences have been minimal so far. Jonathan Milan proved himself a real killer on behalf of Lidl-Trek, with two victories out of two sprint opportunities. But the others were never far behind, and with a slightly better positioning and/or lead-out, they might just win.
A hat-trick for Milan on Friday is, therefore, no easy task. Tim Merlier was already in good shape in the Emirates and was just millimeters away in stage four for Soudal-Quick Step. Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Deceuninck) always needs a few more races to win, so maybe after two sprints, it will be good for him.
Text continues below photo
Milan by millimeters ahead of Merlier, Philipsen third
Behind them, a whole group hopes for that perfect sprint: Fabio Jakobsen (Picnic-PostNL) and Dylan Groenewegen (Jayco-AlUla) did well after not participating on the first day. Arvid de Kleijn does not seem to have it all his own way yet on behalf of Tudor after crashing hard in the AlUla Tour. But the same goes for him: if it all goes well for once...
Other men who were, in principle, among the front runners? Fernando Gaviria (Movistar) looked good, as did the Bahrain train of Phil Bauhaus and the always combative Gerben Thijssen (Intermarché). Sam Welsford tried on behalf of Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe but could not keep up with Danny van Poppel. The pressure is on there, which is not the case at Visma | Lease a Bike. Daniel McLay is free to sprint there after Olav Kooij's illness.
Favorites stage 5 UAE Tour 2025, according to IDLProCycling.com
Top favorites: Jonathan Milan (Lidl-Trek) and Tim Merlier (Soudal Quick-Step)
Outsiders: Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Deceunick), Dylan Groenewegen (Team Jayco AlUla), Sam Welsford (Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe) and Fabio Jakobsen (Team Picnic-PostNL)
Longshots: Phil Bauhaus (Bahrain), Gerben Thijssen (Intermarche-Wanty), Fernando Gaviria (Movistar) and Arvid de Kleijn (Tudor Pro Cycling Team)
Outsiders: Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Deceunick), Dylan Groenewegen (Team Jayco AlUla), Sam Welsford (Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe) and Fabio Jakobsen (Team Picnic-PostNL)
Longshots: Phil Bauhaus (Bahrain), Gerben Thijssen (Intermarche-Wanty), Fernando Gaviria (Movistar) and Arvid de Kleijn (Tudor Pro Cycling Team)
Bram van der Ploeg (Twitter: @BvdPloegg | email: [email protected])
Bram van der PloegEditor-in-chief
Bram van der Ploeg (35) is the proud founder of In de Leiderstrui, IDL Pro Cycling's parent site, launched in 2018. Finally, he could create stories about the sport he had followed since childhood. He is the editor-in-chief on paper, but prefers to be with his recorder next to a rider, a team bus, or in the mud at a cyclocross race. Every year, from February to the end of May, Bram follows the entire Italian cycling season, from the Trofeo Laigueglia to the Giro d'Italia, with the grand finale in October in Lombardy. During that time, he lives in Tuscany, where he has since come to call Italy his 'home'.
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Latest Comments
- I’m still learning the calendar: is cyclocross mainly preparation for the spring classics, or does he race it as a separate goal as well? I’d love to see him back in the mud.jeremya04-11-2026
- The article makes it sound as if Roubaix is the only classic where he has a realistic shot. He’s been close in Flanders too, and one good tactical day can change everything.jennifer1904-11-2026
- Milan-Sanremo and Roubaix is a pretty special pair of Monuments. Any clues yet on which cyclocross races he’ll target?andrewf04-11-2026
- He’s right to be realistic about Flanders with Pogačar and Evenepoel around, but you can’t count Van Aert out on those roads. If he gets the right opportunity, he has the engine and experience to take it.davidm04-11-2026
- That Roubaix win felt like such a release after all the near-misses. Brilliant to hear that joy outweighed relief for Wout.patriciaw04-11-2026
- Why would a mountain time trial be different from a normal one? Is it just that the riders have to climb the whole course?samanthak03-11-2026
- I don’t quite buy the “fear of failure” argument. Riders can race the Giro and still have confidence in July; it comes down to recovery and planning, doesn’t it?patriciaw03-11-2026
- The Giro-Tour double is a massive ask, even for the very best. Pogačar made it look almost routine in 2024, but that’s hardly a sensible benchmark for everyone else!pedalpowe2903-11-2026
- Bakelants makes a fair point: if the 2027 Tour really suits Remco, he can’t afford to dilute the build-up. That 37km flat TT will be tempting, mind.julien03-11-2026
- Mont Blanc sounds like a spectacular finish, though four climbs on the final day might be a bit much after eight hard stages. Hope the route details are clear soon.raceready703-11-2026