Tim Merlier (Soudal Quick Step) wins stage five of the UAE Tour from Abu Dhabi Cycling Club to Abu Dhabi Breakwater (165km).

Today's stage was very calm, with no fans or group crashes and with the day's breakaway caught 4 km from the finish.

Merlier is, like yesterday, the best on the final straight and scores a personal double in the Emirates, beating Philipsen and Milan in the sprint. Skerl and Zanoncello close in the top ten.

Tomorrow the grand finale with the arrival on Jebel Hafeet .

ORDER OF ARRIVAL:

1 MERLIER Tim Soudal Quick-Step 3:44:14

2 PHILIPSEN Jasper Alpecin - Deceuninck ,,

3 MILAN Jonathan Lidl - Trek ,,

4 WALSCHEID Max Team Jayco AlUla,,

5 JAKOBSEN Fabio Team Picnic PostNL ,,

6 RAJOVIĆ Dušan Team Solution Tech - Vini Fantini ,,

7 SKERL Daniel Bahrain - Victorious,,

8 VAN POPPEL Danny Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe ,,

9 ZANONCELLO Enrico VF Group - Bardiani CSF - Faizanè ,,

10 WELSFORD Sam Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe ,,

Photo: Sprint Cycling Agency