Tadej Pogachar will be looking for his second straight UAE Tour win on Saturday, but the talented young Slovenian is concerned about the Jebel Hafeet climb and a last big effort in the UAE desert heat.

This 10.8km winding climb will determine the winner of the 2022 UAE Tour. Pogachar won here in 2021 and 2020 and seems well suited to the constant gradient and the sprint from the sharp left corner in the last few meters. He is concerned about the heat, however.

Temperatures are expected to be around 32°C for the final stage at sea level, which takes up most of the 148-km stage. While temperatures will be cooler at the 1025-meter summit, Pogachar knows it will be a big day in the saddle, and a win on home roads is crucial for UAE Team Emirates.

"I think tomorrow is the most exciting day," said Pogachar, who rode calmly in the peloton as sprinters failed to catch the break on stage 6 and 19-year-old Czech rider Matthias Vacek took the stage win.

"I don't want this to be the hottest day of the week. It's been nice so far, but tomorrow it's going to be even hotter than today, and it was already super hot. I'm happy that tomorrow is the last stage. I'm ready to defend the jersey, but I'm not too stressed." [He is supported by a strong UAE Team Emirates, including Rafau Mayka, Joao Almeida, and George Bennett. Pascal Ackermann, Mikel Bjarg, and Max Richeze will do the necessary work on the flat roads.

Pogacar leads Filippo Ganna (Ineos Grenadiers) by 4 seconds, while overall threat Alexandre Vlasov (Bora-Hansgrohe) is 14 seconds back in third place. Adam Yates (Ineos Grenadiers) is 17 seconds back and American Neilson Powles (EF Education Easypost) is in fifth place, 25 seconds back.

The stage winner will receive a time bonus of 10 seconds, second place will receive 6 seconds, and third place will receive 4 seconds, so every second counts, including the 3, 2, and 1 seconds awarded in the two intermediate sprints.

"As far as climbs go, Adam Yates and Alexandre Vlasov are the strongest, but Intermarché also showed their strength on the Jebel Jais climb," Pogacar said of his rivals.

"A lot can happen. I think we are a strong team, able to keep the group together and control the race."

Pogacar and UAE Team Emirates were one of the few teams that were happy to see a breakaway group steal glory from the sprinters. This surprising result meant avoiding a battle for position and the risk of crashing in a group sprint.

Pogacar praised Matthias Vacek, who became the youngest stage winner in history with a breakaway group ahead of the Slovenians.

"I wouldn't be surprised if a young rider wins. If he rides like he did today, he's super strong. I can't believe it, he powered through 180km. It's not a short distance. I'm happy for him."

"I'm happy to see the breakaway group reach the finish. It's something that sprinters don't like to do, but it's something different. It showed me that it is possible for a breakaway group to finish on a flat stage. This surprised me, but that's cycling."