1st February – Stage 5: AlUla Camel Cup Track – AlUla Camel Cup Track
The final day of racing at the AlUla Tour saw echelon action throughout the day; with early splits and then an overall regrouping before the race split for good in the final 30 kilometres. After strong riding by the team John Degenkolb, Frank van den Broek and Casper van Uden made it into the front split as they took on the roads around the camel cup track. The pace remained high with two of the top three GC riders missing from the leading group and heading into the last kilometre speeds hit 70 kilometres per hour. Degenkolb tried to position Van Uden but in the chaos the duo lost each other, while the latter fought to the line to finish just outside the top ten on the stage. After the finish all eyes were on the clock to see what the gaps were and where Van den Broek and the team would end up on GC, with the young Dutchman ultimately ending the race in seventh place overall.
Road captain Degenkolb said: “It wasn’t the result we were hoping for today on the stage, which I think we’re all a bit disappointed with. However, we also saw some really good things again inside the team today; and we were sharp there in the echelons in the final. The really high speed sprint didn’t work out for us, but it was nice to secure a top ten overall with Frank on the GC, and even move up a spot there.”