Elia Viviani continued the Italian streak of victories in the Abu Dhabi Tour, now led by the Team Sky rider after another sprint finish following a completely flat 129km from the Yas Marina Circuit to Yas Mall.

A carbon copy of the preceeding stage, expect for a less unbearable heat than the 40-plus degrees suffered on Thursday, saw the Movistar Team's Soler, Visconti and Valverde keeping the pace high in the finale to stay into position before the bunch kick, where José Joaquín Rojas took 7th.

With all GC contenders with no bonus seconds so far, the Jebel Hafeet (10.8km at 6.6% average) in the UAE / Oman border will become completely decisive tomorrow, as only a circuit race in Yas Marina - and the subsequent UCI Cycling Gala - is scheduled for the final day on Sunday.