Bold claim: Jonathan Milan nails another sprint in a tricky Dubai finish, proving Lidl-Trek’s cohesion and Milan’s power can override a crowded, high-velocity finale. But here’s where it gets controversial: does a well-executed team sprint overshadow a pure rider’s strength, or does Milan’s repeated success confirm he’s the class of this UAE Tour field? Either way, this stage ride adds a new chapter to the race and keeps the GC drama alive.
UAE Tour: Milan doubles up with a scrappy sprint win on stage 5
Lidl-Trek, with Jonathan Milan at the helm, secured back-to-back stage wins on stage 5 in Dubai. The Italian rider unleashed a powerful sprint to clinch victory in a finish that demanded precise positioning and nerve from the peloton.
The stage finished with a more technical approach than usual, featuring two major turns in the final 1,500 meters. The Lidl-Trek squad navigated the chaotic pursuit for position, delivering Milan to the optimal point on the final straight. Milan launched early and had to push through the line, but staying in the leading position proved crucial as he held off Erlend Blikra (Uno-X Mobility) in second and Matteo Malucelli (XDS Astana) in third.
Red jersey wearer Antonio Tiberi (Bahrain Victorious) finished with the peloton and will continue to lead the race into Saturday’s climb up Jebel Hafeet.
The Dubai finale’s twisty nature carried a risk of crashes, but only Milan’s brother, Matteo Milan (Groupama-FDJ United), who had finished third on stage 4, hit the ground at the final corner.
Milan reflected on the strategy: “Last year here I finished second or third, and I understood how important it was to be in front of the second-to-last corner but not too far out from the finish. My team controlled the stage well, and in the end they aligned me perfectly for the sprint. I found a good line and I’m very happy with this result.”
Looking ahead, the race shifts back toward climbs on Saturday with the decisive GC stage finishing atop Jebel Hafeet, where Tiberi will defend his lead against Isaac del Toro (UAE Team Emirates-XRG).
How the stage unfolded
Stage 5 ran from Dubai Al Mamzar Park to Hamdan Bin Mohammed Smart University. It was a flat profile that initially resisted breaks, delaying the escape for a while. Eventually three riders managed to form the break: Gianni Moscon (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe), Nickolas Zukowsky (Pinarello-Q36.5), and Silvan Dillier (Alpecin-Premier Tech). Dillier won both intermediate sprints but the peloton limited their advantage to around 1:30 in the early kilometers, avoiding a repeat of yesterday’s near-survive break.
As the finish approached, Dubai’s wide roads created a tense position battle. Lidl-Trek led the chase, closing the gap to just over a minute with 30 kilometers to go. The catch finally came with about 3 kilometers remaining, after Zukowsky attempted a late solo move that didn’t bear fruit.
The sprint trains formed for the final corners, with Lidl-Trek and Ineos Grenadiers showing the strongest positioning. The final straight unfolded into a two-turn sprint, with Milan breaking away onto the right line and maintaining his lead as rivals chased from behind.
Result and implications
Milan’s victory elevates him to the points classification, taking over from Del Toro. The red jersey battle remains open, as Tiberi stands 21 seconds ahead of Del Toro ahead of the climactic Jebel Hafeet ascent.
Results powered by FirstCycling.
About the author
Matilda is a British journalist based in the UK, joining Cyclingnews in March 2025. She specializes in race coverage, with extensive experience in women’s cycling and sports journalism.
Would you like a version that focuses more on the tactical analysis of the sprint and break dynamics, or one that emphasizes the GC implications and rider profiles for the upcoming mountain stage?
