DUBAI: Mark Cavendish got his cycling season up by winning Stage 3 of the Dubai Tour. Cavendish, the winner of the 2015 edition of the event, broke through and crossed an attacking Alexander Kristoff to cross the line before everyone else.
Marcel Kittel, who suffered technical troubles in the first stage and was nowhere to be spotted in the second, used his unmatched power to sprint out of his skin in the last couple of kilometers and finished third, behind Team Cofidis’ Nacer Bouhanni, who bagged the second position.
Cavendish had finished fourth in the first stage. Winner of the second stage on Wednesday, Elia Viviani fell behind in the closing moments of the race and finishes sixth. However, the Quick-Steps Floors rider maintained the overall lead, taking over Stage 1 winner Dylan Groenewegen.
“I had a good feeling today, especially after yesterday. I knew I was there. I knew the team was there,” Cavendish said after the win. “I can’t beat Viviani in a track sprint race so I had to wait, wait and wait, and use my jump. Any time of the year, it’s important to win. It’s good for my account. Already with this win, I’ve won the same amount of races I won in the whole season last year. The thing I’m disappointed about is that yesterday, when I realised I couldn’t win, had I kept going, I would have come second and be in the lead now. It’s my own fault. But I’ll try and get the blue jersey in the next two days.”
“I’m just a bit angry that I sat up yesterday. Technically I could have had the leader’s jersey. I apologize to my teammates for that. They did a great job today. Bernie (Eisel), (Mark) Renshaw and I finished the job in the last 3km. I still feel the consequences of my Tour de France crash in my body. It will remain for the rest of my life. Quick-Step, Cofidis and LottoNL-Jumbo all look good. There are so many good teams for sprinting here. I’m nowhere near the form I had in July but I’m happy with my form now.”
Viviani said he got a perfect lead out again but it was hard to lead with a headwind and the messy sprint. “I’m not happy with my result but I’ll try to defend the Blue Jersey. The main contender for GC will be the first sprinter tomorrow. I’m disappointed I didn’t take a time bonus today but I sprinted for the win. Tomorrow’s finish is steep but a good position at the bottom would help to defend the jersey. It won’t be about lead-out this time,” he said.
Dubai Tour 2018: Mark Cavendish conquers Stage 3
