Italian Viviani has come up as a leader in an impressive sprint as LottoNL-Jumbo’s Groenewegen takes second place.
The Dubai Tour which started on Tuesday and lasts until Friday, February 10, is part of a series of three major races that Middle East gets to host. The tour is known to attract some of the world’s elite cyclists.
Just like every other year, this season’s tour has also attracted some of the world’s best sprinters including Mark Cavendish (Dimension Data), two-time overall winner Marcel Kittel (Katusha-Alpecin), Alexander Kristoff (UAE Team Emirates), and Elia Viviani (Quick-Step Floors).
The third, today’s 180km stage of the tour will offer yet another flat route from Skydive Dubai to Fujairah.
“Having my birthday today added to my motivation. Losing yesterday was also good for my head,” Viviani said.
“Overnight we felt like we missed one chance that would never be given back. I feel I’m in good condition and have the legs for winning. I had a mechanical but luckily it was with 20km to go and I had time to come back. With 500m to go, my lead out man Fabio Sabatini closed the gap. I chose Kristoff’s wheel. I saw Groenewegen coming back with 50 meters but finally the line was in the right place for me to win. I’m pretty happy.”
Victory for @eliaviviani of @quickstepteam on Stage 2 of 2018’s Dubai Tour; congratulations! pic.twitter.com/Ig1HMqJ7d7
— Dubai Tour (@dubaitour) February 7, 2018
Stage two Results
Elia Viviani (Ita) Quick-Step Floors – 4:34:31
Dylan Groenewegen (Ned) LottoNL-Jumbo
Riccardo Minali (Ita) Astana Pro Team
Mark Cavendish (GBr) Dimension Data
John Degenkolb (Ger) Trek-Segafredo
Magnus Cort (Den) Astana Pro Team
Alexander Kristoff (Nor) UAE Team Emirates
Jean-Pierre Drucker (Lux) BMC Racing Team
Sonny Colbrelli (Ita) Bahrain-Merida
Adam Blythe (GBr) Aqua Blue Sport
Nacer Bouhanni (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions Credits
Mehdi Benhamouda (Fra) Team Novo Nordisk
Jacob Hennessy (GBr) Mitchelton-Bikeexchange
Eric Young (USA) Rally Cycling
Jakub Mareczko (Ita) Wilier Triestina-Selle Italia
Bert Van Lerberghe (Bel) Cofidis, Solutions Credits
Marcel Kittel (Ger) Katusha-Alpecin
Truls Korsaeth (Nor) Astana Pro Team
Loïc Vliegen (Bel) BMC Racing Team
Andrew Fenn (GBr) Aqua Blue Sport
