Cavendish retains lead
By Rajive Singh
ABU DHABI: German Marcel Kittel today claimed the second stage (Nation Towers Stage) of the 2017 Abu Dhabi Tourl.
Kittel (Quick-Step Floors) finished the 153km race, from Al Maryah Island to Al Marina at the Breakwater, in 3h28’11″, with an average speed of 44.095km/h He beat Australian Caleb Ewan (Orica – Scott) and Briton Mark Cavendish (Team Dimension Data) in a photo-finish, with Cavendish defending his leadership in the overall General Classification and the Red Jersey sponsored by Al Maryah Island.
Ewan was left ruing a premature victory celebration that allowed Kittel to pip him on the line.
Cavendish, who won the first stage (Emirates Motor Company Stage) yesterday after Kittel and Ewan crashed, had to settle for third today; however, he retained the overall lead, said Wam.
Speaking after the stage finish in a press conference, Kittel said, “I think this is a very beautiful moment. Yesterday we lost not only the stage victory but also some skin. Today I had another chance, I was very motivated and I’m very happy now. Our plan was to come at the last moment to the front, I think we did it vey well, almost too late. I could see I was going faster than the rest but I was not sure if that was enough to cross the line first.”
Tomorrow, at the 186 km Stage 3 (Al Maryah Island Stage) from Al Ain to Jebel Hafeet, competitors will tackle a 10-km climb and hilltop finish at the Jebel Hafeet mountain At Stage 4 (Yas Island Stage) of the 671km four-stage tour, to be held on Sunday, riders partake in 26 laps of the Yas Marina Circuit, each of 5.5km.
The Abu Dhabi Tour – the only WorldTour race in the Middle East – is organised by the Abu Dhabi Sports Council (ADSC) in collaboration with RCS Sport.