Juan Sebastián Molano has won stage 4 at UAE Tour in a big bunch sprint, which saw Irish rider Sam Bennett get swamped in the final kilometres and never challenge for the victory.
Molano (UAE Team Emirates) proved best in the headwind sprint after leaving his charge for the line as late as he could. He just about held off two of the new names in the sprint game; Olav Kooij (Jumbo-Visma) and Sam Welsford (Team DSM).
Bennett and his Bora-hansgrohe lead-out man, Danny van Poppel, both became boxed in behind the first line of sprinters at the front in the final dash to the line. And while a way might have opened up for them, this time they had no such luck and had to be content with the minor placings.
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In the end Arvid de Kleijn (Tudor Pro Cycling Team) took 4th with Dylan Groenewegen (Team Jayco AlUla) 5th and Van Poppel in 6th place. Bennett had to make do with 8th today, just one place ahead of stage 1 winner Tim Melier (Soudal-QuickStep). However, the Irish rider should have another chance tomorrow.
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The final sprint - at the end of 174km of racing to Dubai Harbour - unfolded after an unwieldy approach on very wide roads, which saw the peloton bunched up and the speed not shooting up until just before the finish.
More to come.
