Abu Dhabi Tour 2018 | Stage 2 Race Report

Stage 2 of the Abu Dhabi Tour presents another opportunity for this world class field of sprinters to hone their sprint. Today the riders departed from Yas Island, making a 148km loop before finishing back near the Yas Island Mall.

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The pace was brisk for the first hour, with 45km covered and the lead of that 5 man group stabilising around the 4 minute mark.

The first intermediate sprint came at km96, with Tonelli attacking within a kilometer of the line to grab the 8 points on offer.

Behind, the peloton were riding hard, and at this stage of the race that could mean only one thing - crosswinds. As the race changed direction, the breakaway’s lead was wiped out in an instant, and all of a sudden we had riders getting spat out the back.

It was looking ominous for those who didn’t make the front echelon, but as we returned to the more sheltered roads at the finish, the race was gradually drawing back together, but not before the wily Alejandro Valverde had pinched 3 bonus seconds at the 2nd intermediate sprint.

Fabio Sabatini was working Elia Viviani into a very favourable position as we made it to the home straight, with the Italian opting to make a dart for the inside line as the road dropped slightly to the finish line. The plan worked, and Viviani outpaced Danny Van Poppel and Pascal Ackermann for the win.

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Photos: © Bettiniphoto / http://www.bettiniphoto.net/ & ©Tim De Waele / http://www.tdwsport.com

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