Canada’s Nick Zukowsky flew the flag for Pinarello-Q36.5 in Friday’s fifth stage of the UAE Tour. The bunch sprint went Jonathan Milan’s way for the second consecutive day. With the win Derek Gee-West’s new Lidl-Trek teammate took over the points jersey from Isaac del Toro. Antonio Tiberi kept the race lead and Gee-West retained seventh place.
The Course
It was a flat day as the riders tackled 168 km from Dubai Al Mamzar Park to Hamdan Bin Mohammed Smart University.
Canadian Nickolas Zukowsky was part of a small breakaway that started as a quartet and finished as a trio.
XDS-Astana were among the teams that chased, the peloton getting desperate inside 10 km to go, bringing the last of the fugitives to heel with 3 km remaining.
Groupama-FDJ took over the front from Ineos. Things were messy heading into the final kilometre where the road narrowed. From the chaos emerged Milan, with no lead out, charging through the middle and holding off the competition.
Jebel Hafeet used to mark the queen stage, but it has been eclipsed by Jebel Mobrah; nevertheless, Saturday’s stage ends on the 10.6-km, 8.6 percent climb.
2026 UAE Tour, Stage 5
1) Jonathan Milan (Italy/Lidl-Trek) 4:03:06
2) Erlend Blikra (Norway/Uno-X) s.t.
3) Matteo Malucelli (Italy/XDS Astana) s.t.
47) Riley Pickrell (Canada/Modern Adventure) s.t.
UAE Tour GC
1) Antonio Tiberi (Italy/Bahrain-Victorious) 14:45:47
2) Isaac del Toro (Mexico/UAE-Emirates) +0:21
3) Harold Tejada (Colombia/XDS-Astana) +1:00
7) Derek Gee-West (Canada/Lidl-Trek) +1:22
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