DUBAI: Defending champion Marcel Kittel won the Tour of Dubai on Saturday after clinching the final stage by emerging triumphant from a bunch sprint at the foot of the world’s tallest building.
The German Quick Step rider outpaced Italian duo Elia Viviani and Riccardo Minali for his third stage win from four on the Tour after a 124km run through Dubai finishing at the foot of the 828m-tall Burj Khalifa.
Friday’s medium mountain stage could have derailed Kittel’s defense of a Tour also won in 2016, but due to violent winds the stage was canceled.
Quintana storms to stage win, overall lead
Nairo Quintana showcased his fine early season form ahead of a Giro d’Italia-Tour de France double by storming to victory on the fourth stage of the Tour of Valencia and the overall lead on Saturday.
On his 27th birthday, the Colombian was in a class of his own on the winding category one climb to the finish of the 180km ride from Segrobe to Lucena del Cid as he claimed victory in 5hrs 02mins and 19secs.
Eritrea’s Merhawi Kudus was second 40 seconds back with Portugal’s Amaro Antunes in third.
Quintana leads BMC duo Ben Hermans and Manuel Senni by 23 and 42 seconds respectively in the general classification with just a flat 130km ride from Paterna to Valencia to come on Sunday.
Overnight leader Greg van Avermaet finished 4mins 44secs back on Quintana to tumble down the overall standings.
Defending champion Wout Poels climbed up to fourth in the general classification thanks to his fourth place finish on the day.
The German Quick Step rider outpaced Italian duo Elia Viviani and Riccardo Minali for his third stage win from four on the Tour after a 124km run through Dubai finishing at the foot of the 828m-tall Burj Khalifa.
Friday’s medium mountain stage could have derailed Kittel’s defense of a Tour also won in 2016, but due to violent winds the stage was canceled.
Quintana storms to stage win, overall lead
Nairo Quintana showcased his fine early season form ahead of a Giro d’Italia-Tour de France double by storming to victory on the fourth stage of the Tour of Valencia and the overall lead on Saturday.
On his 27th birthday, the Colombian was in a class of his own on the winding category one climb to the finish of the 180km ride from Segrobe to Lucena del Cid as he claimed victory in 5hrs 02mins and 19secs.
Eritrea’s Merhawi Kudus was second 40 seconds back with Portugal’s Amaro Antunes in third.
Quintana leads BMC duo Ben Hermans and Manuel Senni by 23 and 42 seconds respectively in the general classification with just a flat 130km ride from Paterna to Valencia to come on Sunday.
Overnight leader Greg van Avermaet finished 4mins 44secs back on Quintana to tumble down the overall standings.
Defending champion Wout Poels climbed up to fourth in the general classification thanks to his fourth place finish on the day.
