The final stage proceeded largely as expected, with British time trial champion Alex Dowsett (Movistar) among the riders who test their legs in the breakaway.

The sprint teams were never going to let that stick, however, and when Dowsett and Dylan Theuns (BMC Racing) – the last two riders standing – were caught with 28km remaining a bunch sprint was always inevitable.

Ewan arrived at the front on the wheel of team-mate Roger Kluge, and the Australian – who won four stages of the season-opening Tour Down Under too – continued his fine form by sprinting to victory.

Both Cavendish and Andre Greipel (Lotto-Soudal) found themselves too far back in the final sprint to catch Ewan, but the Manxman’s consolation prize for second place – his third top-three finish of the race – was the green jersey.

For Cavendish, meanwhile, his attention will now turn to Tirreno-Adriatico, a race which will serve as his final warm-up ahead of Milan-San Remo.

Abu Dhabi Tour: stage four – result

1) Caleb Ewan (AUS) – Orica-Scott – 3.03.06hrs
2) Mark Cavendish (GBR) – Dimension Data – ST
3) Andre Greipel (GER) – Lotto-Soudal
4) Niccolo Bonifazio (ITA) – Bahrain-Merida
5) Matteo Pelucchi (ITA) – Bora-hansgrohe
6) Roger Kluge (GER) – Orica-Scott
7) Julian Alaphilippe (FRA) – QuickStep Floors
8) Alexander Porsev (RUS) – Gazprom-RusVelo
9) Kiel Reijnen (USA) – Trek-Segafredo
10) Rick Zabel (GER) – Katusha-Alpecin

General classification

1) Rui Costa (POR) – UAE Team Emirates – 15.42.21hrs
2) Ilnur Zakarin (RUS) – Katusha-Alpecin +4”
3) Tom Dumoulin (NED) – Team Sunweb +16”
4) Bauke Mollema (NED) – Trek-Segafredo +38”
5) Julian Alaphilippe (FRA) – QuickStep Floors +53”
6) Rafal Majka (POL) – Bora-hansgrohe +56”
7) George Bennett (NZL) – LottoNL-Jumbo – ST
8) Fabio Aru (ITA) – Astana
9) Domenico Pozzovivo (ITA) – Ag2r-La Mondiale
10) Patrick Konrad (AUT) – Bora-hansgrohe +1.07