The final stage is once again completely flat, and with 107 kilometers pretty short. No wind today, so no big changes in the GC are to be expected. However, there's still a close fight for the points jersey, with Cimolai just four points in front of Bennett, and Boudat one more point behind.

With no more climbing left to do and the other guys planned for the sprint train, I was allowed to go on the attack today. And I managed to get into the break of the day, a 15 men group - quite promising.

With six kilometers to go, we were still about 50 seconds in front. At this point, I was virtually both in white and on the overall podium. But we had to keep that up!

In the peloton, FDJ was leading the chase with our guys right next to them, in case we would get caught.

The sprint for the win had begun. It was clear that the winner would come from our group. But who would it be? And would there be a time gap?

I'm not known to be a fast guy, so I was just as surprised as everyone else when I finished third! I was a little lucky, hopping from the right wheel to the next - and that also meant 4 seconds of time bonification! Would that be enough for white?

Unfortunately not. Everything goes wrong for us: Sam decided to take the sprint full speed to try and take the points jersey, only to fall one point short, and in the process he may have cost me white, as I'm just missing four seconds in the end.

Ian Butler wrote:
Very nice race all round, though just missing out on two jerseys is unfortunate.
Still, easy WT points and a nice sprint finish from our protagonist!

sutty68 wrote:
Great last stage from Emanuel but what a team performance in the Overall GC

VoetsT wrote:
Well done for this race! Very good team performance overall

The Abu Dhabi Tour saw an unprecedented domination by Bora, as we took advantage of an extremely weak starting field. Against tougher opposition, Peter Sagan managed to strengthen his position as the top classics rider currently around.

There would be no getting around the queen stage in Abu Dhabi here, but you've already see that, so let me show you the finish line picture from Peter's Omloop Het Nieuwsblad win. In an otherwise very close sprint, he's almost a bike length in front of everyone else!

We had a few other good results this month in continental races as well:

With little points to be won in the February races come little changes in the rankings. Patrick Konrad is the only new rider in the Top 5, just barely edging out Hermans. FDJ and Orica change places as Lotto Soudal kicks BMC out of the Top 5 in the team rankings.

Peter Sagan will try to continue his run with the Strade Bianche coming up tomorrow, and afterwards he'll join Rafal Majka and myself for the Tirreno - Adriatico, my last race as a domestique - at least for a few weeks!

See you around,

Alongside Paris - Nice, the Tirreno - Adriatico is one of the two first actual season highlights for stage racers, and the first World Tour race on Italian ground. The race has a long tradition dating back to 1966, and while stage racers battle for the win, many sprinters and puncheurs use it as a final preparation race for Milano - San Remo.

Roger Vlaeminck won the race six times in a row from 1972 to 1977, holding the record for most wins. Last year's winner was Greg Van Avermaet on a route without any big mountains.

A puncheur as the race winner most probably won't happen this time, the final climb up to Monte Terminillo should be too hard for those types of riders. A strong team for the opening team time trial will also be needed, as the race won't be won on that day, but it could already be lost.

We have two main objectives here: One is to fulfill our sponsor goal, which is a Top 5 overall. Rafal is our guy, and with the form he's been showing in Abu Dhabi - granted in a weak field, but still -, that should be doable. Jan Barta and Maciej Bodnar will provide valuable power in the team time trial, and Bodnar has his eyes set on the final stage as well.

Also, Peter Sagan is in the final throes of his Milano - San Remo preparation and is a top contender for the flat and hilly stages.

Masterblaster01 wrote:
Some great results!
Good luck in the Tirreno!

Ian Butler wrote:
Sagan needs at least a stage win and green to have a mediocre Tirreno, I think

Let's put in one great final domestic performance for a while!

A straightforward opening stage in and around the beach resort of Lido di Camaiore. A flat, 22 kilometers long team time trial. On paper, we have a strong lineup, but this is the first time we're riding in this constellation, so we're not sure what to expect.

And we're off! The first couple of kilometers feel good, but we don't have a comparison yet.

The midway checkpoint dampens our hopes for a top result. We're 12 seconds behind the leading team LottoNL - Jumbo.

And our fear is confirmed - we don't manage to make up any time, and despite all of us being at the end of our tether, we only finish 14th.

Team Sky are the winners of the day. The showed perfect timing with in incredibly strong second half of the race, and really distanced everyone else. Luckily, the time gaps weren't as big, and Rafal only lost maximum 13 seconds on his biggest rivals.

Masterblaster01 wrote:
Yeah, 29 seconds isn't much, but with only one mountain stage every second behind is one to much.. Hoping for some good legs!

Tamijo wrote:


I think you will be surprised how much can be gained or lost on stage 2,5,7 but let’s see.