Team Sky's Elia Viviani has won the second stage of the Abu Dhabi Tour.
Andrea Guardini of Astana was in the leaders jersey for a 129km second stage which started on the Yas Marina Grand Prix circuit and finished at the Marina Island at temperatures of 34 degrees on mainly flat roads.
Haddi, Belkov, Bazzana, Patten, Voss & Zurl were first to attack and they were two minutes clear after covering fifty kilometres at a fast pace.
There was a big crash which took down Tom Boonen, who was taken away in an ambulance and saw Theo Bos retire after Haddi had taken the intermediate sprint.
With 55kms to go, the gap to the five which was without Paul Voss who was disqualified following an incident with another rider during the intermediate sprint., was down to 2.18 with only Belkov, Patten and Bazzana out in front, the peloton shaved another minute of their lead.
They were caught, despite Patten's attempt to stay away and Belkov, Clarke and Schtioui took over.
They stayed clear until there was 2.4kms left and it was on to the finishing straight with Tinkoff Saxo working for Peter Sagan with Team Sky in close attention.
Sagan attacked but Elia Viviani of Team Sky was with him and Viviani got past to take the win and the overall lead of the race ahead of Sagan, Sabatini and Megzec.
Elia Viviani said:
"I know this final of the season I have really good condition. Yesterday we were disappointed because we worked all day and lost position on the last corner. I did a good sprint but from 30 positions back. Today we decided not to work as much, to save energy because we have a lot of climbers for tomorrow. If I was to have two leadout guys we needed to stay on wheels."
"When I saw 3km I needed to do a good effort to take Sagan’s wheel. When Sagan opened his sprint I say ‘ok, now I need to pass him, not wait’. I know I have good power at the end of this season. I am really really happy to take another win this season."
Source: DSG
