ORICA-GreenEDGE will enter tomorrow’s penultimate, and likely deciding, day of the Abu Dhabi Tour having safely protected Colombian climber Esteban Chavesthrough two hot sprint stages.

The Australian outfit again played it quiet on today’s 127km stage, which was eventually won by Team Sky’s Elia Vivani.

World championship silver medalist Michael Matthews was the team’s top finisher in 13th, Chaves securely in the bunch in 24th.

“Today was another pretty standard sprint stage,” sport director Matt White said.

“Again we concentrated on keeping Esteban protected to ensure we arrived at tomorrow’s stage having not lost any time.

“I still think tomorrow, and the race, will be fought out between the Vuelta a Espana general classification contenders and Vincenzo Nibali.”