Artyom Zakharov (Astana Kazakstan Team) will be the first down the start ramp in the 9km time trial of the third stage of the UAE Tour in Ajman on Tuesday. Starting at 14:15 local time, Jasper Philippsen (Alpecin Phoenix) will be the last rider at 16:19 local time.

There have been two bunch sprints so far in the seven-day race, with Philipsen winning the first stage, Madinat Zayed, and Mark Cavendish (open in new tab) (Quick Step-Alphavinil) winning the second stage, Abu Dhabi Breakwater.

Philipsen heads into the time trial 4 seconds ahead of Dmitry Strakhov (Gazprom-Rusvelo) and 6 seconds ahead of Cavendish.

However, the time trial is expected to be the first day that will further widen the time gap in the overall competition. The flat course will start in the village of Ajman and run for about 4 km along the harbor past the Al Zohra Gold Club before making a U-turn and returning to the finish line in the village of Ajman.

The route targets the strongest time triallists looking for a stage win or a top overall finish: former ITT under-23 world champion Mikkel Bjarg (UAE Team Emirates) in 14:22 and Stefan Bissegger (EF Education - Easy Post ) are the early starters at 14:28. Time trial world champion Filippo Ganna (Ineos Grenadiers) will start at 15:34.

Defending champion Tadei Pogachar (UAE Team Emirates) will start further down the line at 15:55, while Alex Dowsett (Israel Premier Tech) and Tom Dumoulin (Jumbo Visma) will start slightly later at 16:05 and 16:09 local time respectively. The start will be slightly later, from 16:05 and 16:09 local time, respectively.