Ag2r went into today's stage of the Dubai Tour with the goal of setting climber Mikael Cherel up for the finale. In the end, the team came away empty-handed as the Frenchman could only manage 14th.

"Its was the hardest stage of the Dubaï Tour with four KOM (King of the Mountain) and a finish line at the top of a short but difficult climb," sports director Gilles Mas said. "Mikaël is fighting very well with all the best riders. Johan Vansummeren and Damien Gaudin were well in the main peloton before the last climb."