Dubai: Asked to name the favourite for this year’s Dubai Tour, Astana Team’s defending Tour de France champion Vicenzo Nibali chose Peter Sagan. Then as an after-thought, he mentioned a couple more names such as Team Katusha’s Spanish rider Joaquim Rodriguez and Great Britain’s Mark Cavendish, who races with the Etixx-QuickStep team.
Nibali, of course, had his reasons for putting his money on Slovak rider Sagan, who turned 25 on January 26. Considered one of the most exciting talents following a string of prestigious wins coming in his early 20s, Nibali has experienced the supreme talent of Sagan after the Slovak went on to win the green jersey on three occasions last year.
The second edition of Dubai Tour, that runs from Wednesday to Saturday in four stages, will offer a testing challenge to the 128 riders from 16 teams. With all four stages boasting of flat racing totalling 663 kms over four days, it is bound to end in favour of the more punchy riders, who are able to weave their way out on top from a bunch. And this is where Nibali sees Sagan fitting the role to perfection.
The title could be anybody’s though on Saturday as there are a host of other riders who possess equal amount of guile and dedication to make it to the front. The organisers have introduced two important changes from last year — no first day Time Trial and addition of bonus points offered at the end of each stage. With the Time Trial last year, things became more or less predictable with the top five finishers at the end of the first stage going on to end in the same positions by the end of four days of racing.
However, this year’s bonus points will make the substantial difference, with the likelihood that the overall title will be challenged for by the sprinters. A quick look at three others who can also make a difference:
Mark Cavendish: Great Britain’s Etixx-QuickStep rider Mark Cavendish is arguably the best sprinter in the pack of 128 riders, thus putting the favourite’s tag heavily on his shoulders. Standing in Cavendish’s favour is the elimination of the Time Trial. One of the negatives that could go against Cavendish is Stage 3 that consists of a few climbs, and in fact, ends with a 600-metre off climb at the finish on Hatta Dam. The British rider needs to get off to a great start on the opening day, and it will be that momentum that can see him dominate on the remaining three days.
Joaquim Rodriguez: Like many riders, Joaquim Rodriguez will be opening his season in Dubai, and that may go against the Spanish rider of Team Katusha. But he is known to be adaptable to conditions sooner than most others, and given his strengths on climbs, Rodriguez will be eager to consolidate by the penultimate stage.
Vicenzo Nibali: Perhaps what Nibali forgot was putting himself among the favourites who could possibly be on top of the winner’s podium at the foot of the Burj Khalifa on Saturday evening. Though the Sicilian has trained hard every single day throughout winter at the Astana Team base in Spain, Nibali seems quite content on simply finishing the Dubai Tour with the bigger picture of defending his Tour de France crown at the back of his mind.
John Degenkolb: In the absence of specialist sprinter Marcel Kittel, who won three stages last year, Giant-Alpecin’s John Degenkolb of Germany may look to be with an outside chance for overall honours. And though he neither the fastest sprinter nor the smoothest climber, Degenkolb’s all-round qualities puts him among the favourites to win.
But then, this is a tricky sport with so much of uncertainties. Come Saturday, and we will know whether the new champion is among these top drawer names or an unlikely hero lands the honours!
