Look: Pogacar seals UAE Tour 2022 victory atop Jebel Hafeet for Team UAE Emirates

Riders wait for the start of the final stage of the UAE Tour from Al Jahili Fort to Jebel Hafeet. The fourth edition, the one and only UCI WorldTour race in the Middle East, was organised by Abu Dhabi Sports Council.

Riders compete during the final stage. The Mubadala stage was 148km from Al Ain to Jebel Hafeet.

UAE Team Emirates' Slovenian cyclist Tadej Pogacar, the two time Tour de France winner and 2021 UAE Tour defending champion, in action. Hot conditions of 31 degrees Celsius would make the decisive stage even more difficult with only a light wind.

The first edition of the UAE Tour took place between 24 February and 2 March 2019 as part of the 2019 UCI World Tour.

Yesterday Mathias Vacek (Gazprom-RusVelo) won stage six of the UAE Tour after the peloton failed to bring back the day’s breakaway.

Pogacar retained the UAE title, demonstrating his domination by sprinting away from his main rival Adam Yates (INEOS Grenadiers) at the end of the final climb. Yates threw everything at Pogacar in the final five kilometres to the finish but he could not catch him.

Pogacar celebrates as he crosses the finish line to win. Yates finished second while Pello Bilbao (Bahrain – Victorious) was third just a handful of seconds behind the leading pair.

Pogacar on the podium with the trophy after winning the UAE Tour. He won the race overall by 22 seconds ahead of Yates. It was Pogacar's second stage win of the UAE Tour after also winning the only other mountain summit up to Jebel Jais on stage four. On the same climb last year, Pogacar edged Yates at the line with the rest of the field far behind.

Pogacar (centre), with Ineos Grenadiers' British cyclist Adam Yates who came second (left) and third place Team Bahrain Victorious' Spanish cyclist Pello Bilbao on the podium.