Abu Dhabi: World champion Peter Sagan felt that the weather conditions ahead of the Abu Dhabi Tour, set to kick-off tomorrow, is far from ideal.
“After one very crazy week, to come here and it is very hot. And I don’t like it hot. I don’t understand that there are no rules for weather conditions,” Sagan, who won the Elite Road Race Championship in Richmond last week, said.
Sagan felt that these testing conditions are a huge risk for the riders.
He even had an example to ascertain his claim to have race under cooler weather: “I think it is dangerous riding when the temperatures are over 40. We had one very bad experience with one of my teammates,” said the 35-year-old.
Fatigue woes
The 145km stage 3 will be a gruelling challenge for the riders from Al Qattara Souq to Al Ain’s Jabel Hafeet and there will be a 11.7km climb.
Italian Fabio Aru, a Vuelta winner, though was happy with what he had seen so far from the time he landed here — though he was quick to reveal about the fatigue coming to the end of the season.
“I’m feeling tired, of course, after what has been a long season. I have liked what I have seen here in Abu Dhabi.
“I’m here with a good team and we showed a great performance. I’m once again ready to put myself at the service of my team and teammates.”
Former world champions Philippe Gilbert too felt that the temperature will have a huge role to play in the outcome of the race. “It is hard to say how well we would do as the difference of temperature is big and it will be hard. We have two days to bend the leg and see how we will be able to climb fast.”
