You can have all the ammunition in the world – but if you don’t fire it correctly it’s worthless.

Omega Pharma-QuickStep brought a strong team to Dubai, in the hope of challenging on all fronts and winning all four stages.

But two stages in and things haven’t worked out as planned, with world time trial champion Tony Martin finishing fourth on the opening day, won by Taylor Phinney (BMC Racing), and Mark Cavendish left frustrated after getting boxed in on stage two, which saw Marcel Kittel (Giant-Shimano) sprint to victory.

Here are five observations at the halfway point in the inaugural Dubai Tour.