DUBAI — German sprinter Marcel Kittel won the first stage of the Tour of Dubai Wednesday when he edged out last year’s winner, Britain’s Mark Cavendish, in a bunch sprint.
After the 173km run from the Dubai Marine Club to Fujairah, Italy’s Giacomo Nizzolo came in third with the top three picking up time bonuses of 10, six and four seconds, giving the three the lead in the overall standings.
This first of four stages featured a long escape led by Loic Vliegen and Martin Mortensen, which was reeled in comfortably, however, with 10 kilometers to race.
Thursday’s second stage also embarks from the Marine Club for a 183km ride out around the outskirts of the city, back through the port and out onto the finish line at Palm Jumeirah.
Froome makes smooth start
Tour de France champion Chris Froome made a smooth start to what could be a remarkable season for the British cyclist with a short prologue to the Herald Sun Tour in Melbourne Wednesday.
The 30-year-old has set himself some lofty goals this year, hoping to secure a treble triumph of double Olympic gold and a third Tour de France title.
“It’s definitely a bit of a lung opener, that ride,” the Team Sky rider told reporters after an incident-free 2.1 km dash around Melbourne’s Southbank. “It was a really short, intense little sprint basically,” he added.
Froome clocked two minutes 42.1 seconds to cross the line eight seconds off the pace in 26th and his best chance of a victory in the five-stage race is likely to come at the summit finish at Arthurs Seat on Sunday’s final day. “I’m happy with that... the main objective today was just to stay upright,” he said.
“The racing is still going to be decided over these next few days. Undoubtedly, once we get to Arthurs Seat at the end, that’s going to be the big day.”
