Dubai: Italian sprinter Elia Viviani of Quick-Step Floors powered to victory on Stage 2 of the Abu Dhabi Tour from Yas Island to Yas Beach on Thursday.
The 2018 Dubai Tour and Olympic champion crossed the line first in a bunch sprint ahead of Danny Van Poppel (Team Lotto NL — Jumbo) and Pascal Ackermann (Bora — Hansgrohe) and took the overall lead in the General Classification.
On the podium he was rewarded with the race leader’s Red Jersey, sponsored by Al Maryah Island, and also the points leader’s Green Jersey, sponsored by Emirates Post.
Speaking after his victory, Viviani said: “I need to break the ice on the first day of a stage race. Usually, I don’t win the first sprint. It’s been the case again but I was very confident today.
“I felt strong and I was willing to pull. We had Julian Alaphilippe and Enric Mas in the front group. It was good for our GC but we also wanted to win the stage, so I asked the guys to wait for me and close the gap. When we regrouped with 20km to go, I said we put all our efforts into the last corner. The young Alvaro Hodeg is unbelievable in his preparation for my sprint. Michael Morkov is always in the right place and I trust Fabio Sabatini 100 per cent for the lead out. With such a team, it was easy for me to finish it off.
“I feel lucky to have Quick-Step leading me out: three guys are able to accelerate at the same speed I sprint. Now I just have to stay focused on Fabio Sabatini’s wheel. He knows when to make an effort. He’s the best lead-out man in the world. He’s a different Saba than the teammate I had at Liquigas before. With Max Richeze, we actually have the two best lead out men in the world, not just one.”
Best young rider Van Poppel said: “Elia Viviani is the fastest sprinter at the moment. It’s not a shame to be second to him. But I’m disappointed because the team did a great job and I really wanted to finish it off. In the echelons, I was confident that our front group would make it because there were a lot of GC guys taking turns and I thought I had a big chance to win because Elia wasn’t up there. They came across but it was nice to be part of a hard race. It’ll be hard to defend the best young rider position because of the uphill finish on the last day but it’ll be nice to race in the white jersey tomorrow.”
Stage 3’s route is mostly within the city. After the start, wide roads head towards the Grand Mosque where the course diverts towards the Al Wathba Camel Track, site of the first intermediate sprint. It then leads back to Yas Island through Al Falah, where the riders find the second intermediate sprint — note there are also several roundabouts and speed bumps in this area. After Yas Island the race continues on Shaikh Bin Zayed Highway, along the Abu Dhabi Corniche and towards the finish. The whole course is on wide roads but again riders must be aware of the cat’s eyes.
Results
STAGE 2 RESULT
1 — Elia Viviani (Quick-Step Floors) 148km in 3h15’30”, average speed 45.421km/h
2 — Danny Van Poppel (Team Lotto NL — Jumbo) same time
3 — Pascal Ackermann (Bora — Hansgrohe) same time
JERSEYS
The Red Jersey, sponsored by the Al Maryah Island (General individual classification by time) — Elia Viviani (Quick-Step Floors)
The Green Jersey, sponsored by Emirates Post (General individual classification by points) — Elia Viviani (Quick-Step Floors)
The White Jersey, sponsored by Abu Dhabi Sports Channel (Best Young Rider born after 1 January 1993) — Danny Van Poppel (Team Lotto NL — Jumbo)
The Black Jersey, sponsored by Etihad Airways (Intermediate Sprint Jersey Classification) — Nikolay Trusov (Gazprom — Rusvelo)
GENERAL CLASSIFICATION
1 — Elia Viviani (Quick-Step Floors)
2 — Alexander Kristoff (UAE Team Emirates) same time
3 — Danny Van Poppel (Team Lotto NL — Jumbo) at 4 secs
