Quick Step's Marcel Kittel took the win in a photo-finish on the second stage of the Abu Dhabi Tour.
Stage two of this four stage race was a flat 153km stage from Abu Dhabi (Al Maryah Island) to Abu Dhabi (Al Marina) which had Dimension Data’s Mark Cavendish in the red leader’s jersey, Andrei Greipel of Lotto Soudal wearing Cavendish’s green points jersey, Niccolò Bonifazio (Bahrain - Merida) in the white young rider’s jersey and Manuele Mori (UAE Abu Dhabi) in the black sprint jersey.
It was a stage that saw six riders in Boem, Calabria, Canola, De Marchi, Durasek and Sveshnikov get into a break and get two minutes clear.
Marco Canola of Bardiani CSF took the first sprint at Shakhbout City as the lea went out to 2.02 with 95kms left to race.
Twenty five kilometres later, the gap was 2.17 on a cloudy day with a coastal headwind.
Canola took the second sprint with 53.3kms to take the maximum points and put him on six points with Manuele Mori.
The peloton were keeping their eye on the break and with just over thirty kilometres remaining of this stage, the gap was down to 1.28.
Marcel Kittel suffered a puncture but got back in the pack who had the break in sight on a long flat road.
Onto the Abui Dhabi Corniche and only De Marchi and Canola were left up front with a lead of seventeen seconds going into the final eight kilometres.
The end was certainly night for De Marchi and Canola and in front of reasonable crowds and at speeds of 60kmh, they were caught with 2.3kms to go.
Dimension Data took to the front with Mark Cavendish in their wheel going under the flam rouge.
The sprint was royally on. Caleb Ewen went down the middle, Mark Cavendish on the left and Andre Greipel on the right and it took a photo finish and some looking at the video to decide that Marcel Kittel had won in 3.28.11 ahead of Ewen and Cavendish who keeps his leader’s jersey.
Kittel said about his victory: "It was one of the beautiful moments today. " I was certainly motivated. "My plan was to come to the front at this moment and I was jumping from wheel to wheel.
"Once I saw the line I went all in. I was not sure I had won but it was nice to win. After the crash yesterday, it is very nice for me to win."
Article by Kev Monks for Digital Sports Group
Source: DSG
