Belgian sprinter Tim Merlier won the fifth stage of the UAE Tour on Friday, edging Italians Matteo Malucelli and Jonathan Milan, while Tadej Pogacar retained the overall lead.

Milan had won two sprints in the race but missed his bid for a hat-trick in Dubai.

Merlier Dominates Chaotic Sprint

Merlier, of Soudal Quick Step, dominated the sprint to take victory. Malucelli of Astana passed Milan of Lidl-Trek on the line to claim second place.

Crashes split the peloton at the start of the final kilometre, creating a chaotic finish.

Pogacar Gains Time In Breakaway

Overall leader Pogacar, of Team UAE, opted for an unconventional strategy, spending more than 100km of the flat 160km stage in a breakaway.

"It was not the plan. Just, me and Domen, we were coming back from a pee break like everybody else and then we just happened to roll through the bunch...". He then recalled a past experience: "...I was thinking like in Catalunya last year, attacking the bunch, we stopped, we hid and catch back in peloton. But today some riders followed and we formed the breakaway and then we just commit to it somehow. It was a good day out on trying to to live the breakaway life."

Regarding breaking a record with a 48.7 km/hour stage, he stated, "Well, I think today was I think for 90% peloton was a good day because we finished the stage faster."

Despite being reeled in with 39km still remaining, Pogacar picked up bonuses on the intermediate sprints, gaining 21 seconds over second-place Josh Tarling.