Photos: UAE Tour Stage 2 at Al Hudayriat Island in Abu Dhabi

Italy’s Filippo Ganna won Monday’s 13km individual time trial on the second stage of the UAE Tour.

Tour de France champion and UAE Team Emirates' home hope Tadej Pogacar took over the race leader's Red Jersey.

Pogacar said: “I’m really happy with my performance today. The wind was quite strong. I did my best and it was a really good time, I’m happy to have the leader’s jersey. I prefer to be ahead than behind on GC.”

Ineos rider Ganna clocked 13min 56sec on the circuit around Al Hudayriyat Island in Abu Dhabi, finishing 14sec clear of Switzerland’s Stefan Bissegger.

UAE Team Emirates rider Mikkel Bjerg of Denmark was third, just ahead of teammate Pogacar in the shadows of the Abu Dhabi skyscrapers on the Corniche..

Tuesday’s third stage is a 162km run from Al Ain to Jebel Hafeet and concludes with a summit finish.

Pogacar was fourth on the day and inherited the leader’s Red Jersey vacated by Mathieu van der Poel following Alpecin-Fenix’s decision to withdraw from the race after a member of the team’s staff tested positive for COVID-19.

Speaking after the stage finish, winner Ganna said: “It’s never easy to win a time trial even if you do it with good legs and a strong focus. Luckily my body was ready for this effort today. It’s a fantastic result for me and for the team. It was a bit strange to ride in the desert and it’s my first time at the UAE Tour. It’s hard to ride at 55 or 56km/h but I’m really happy today.”