Stage 4

Friday February 03 2017 - Dubai to Hatta Dam - 172 km Mountain Finish
 

The route of stage 4 in the 2017 Dubai Tour travels in 172 kilometres to a puncher's finish at the Hatta Dam. The last 40 kilometres have two more uphill sections on offer, yet the closing climb is toughest with a 17% ramp just before the finish line.

After leaving Dubai the pack crosses the desert in easterly direction. The route of the 4th stage of the 2017 Dubai Tour travels to Hatta, a town in the Al Hajar Mountains, located at an elevation of 387 metres. The closing climb at the Hatta Dam is short en steep.

Stage 4 is an exact copy of last year’s 3rd stage when Juan José Lobato outperformed Giacomo Nizzolo. Two years ago John Degenkolb powered to victory at the Hata Dam, ahead of Alejandro Valverde.

The route takes in three climbs. The first one is crested with 35 kilometres left, while the second – 5.8 kilometres, steepest section at 10% – peaks at 8 kilometres from the finish line.

The closing climb is only 1 kilometre, yet it is marked by an absurd steep end. After a fairly neutral opening the final 200 metres are insane. At first an 8% grade, getting nastier in the last 100 metres with 14% and then 17%.

By Dubai concepts we are talking Alpe d’Huez here, but let’s be realistic. Marcel Kittel – not really known for his climbing skills – lost merely 4 seconds to Lobato in 2016. The next day he went on to take the overall after winning enough time bonus to do so.

All stages in the 2017 Dubai Tour come with time bonuses of 10, 6 and 4 seconds on the line. Two intermediate sprints – after 57 and 109.9 kilometres – bring 3, 2 and 1 second each.

The stage starts at 11:00 and the finish is expected around 15:20, both local times.

Stage 4