One year after winning Stage 2 of the Dubai Tour at Palm Jumeirah in front of the magnificent Atlantis hotel, Italian sprinter Elia Viviani of Team Sky repeated his victory as he edged out his compatriots Sacha Modolo of Lampre - Merida, Giacomo Nizzolo of Trek - Segafredo and Andrea Guardini of Astana Pro Team.
He also succeeded Marcel Kittel of Etixx - Quick Step in the lead of the overall classification on the eve of the queen stage to Hatta Dam.
“A perfect lead out means there’s only one sprint to do and that’s for the victory. Yesterday I had to sprint twice only to reposition myself and I finished eighth. Today I got what I needed for winning,” Viviani said.
“Tomorrow it’ll be a decisive stage for the Dubai Tour. Last year we didn’t see the route before the stage and I got dropped with 10km to go. I have a better condition nowadays after having raced the Tour of San Luis. We’ll try to overcome the short climb at the finish and I’ll have another chance to win the overall on Sunday.”
Four riders contested most of the race at the front: Francisco Manchebo of Skydive Dubai Pro Cycling Team - Al Ahli Club, Koen de Kort of Team Giant - Alpecin, Silvan Dillier of BMC Racing Team and Marcin Bialoblocki of One Pro Cycling. The latter won all intermediate sprints to claim the dedicated UAE flag jersey.
Manchebo forged on with 16km to go as the peloton was right behind him. He knew he’d get caught, especially because the breakaway was always kept under control with a gap of less than two minutes. The Spanish veteran was reeled in with 12km to go. British teams One Pro Cycling and Team Wiggins were the most active at the head of the peloton in the last 10km.
Sir Bradley Wiggins himself sped up from 3 to 2km to go to stretch the bunch. A crash occurred at the exit of a tunnel 1km before the line but with minor consequences. Perfectly led out by Team Sky and ultimately Ben Swift at the end, Viviani took his first victory of the year on the same waterfront that looks like a springboard for another successful season.
“I’m happy to keep the white jersey. I also wanted to break away again to defend the lead in the intermediate sprints competition but my friend [Francisco Mancebo] went so I stayed in the peloton,” best young rider Soufiane Haddi said.
“It was good to have our team represented at the front again. I haven’t said my last word. Tomorrow I’ll try to regain the lead for the intermediate sprints.”
Intermediate sprints leader Marcin Bialoblocki said: “I might have little experience at this level of racing but we have prepared very well for our first season as a Pro Continental team. I’m in good shape so I had no problem with the speed. I was also fast enough to win the intermediate sprints. I’m happy with my ride.”