DUBAI: Germany’s Marcel Kittel won the Tour of Dubai on Saturday after he outsprinted his rivals, claiming victory in the final fourth stage of the race.

He replaced Italy’s Giacomo Nizzolo, who had seized the overall leader’s blue jersey on Friday but had to settle for sixth place in Saturday’s race.

Nizzolo took second place in the overall standings, four seconds behind Kittel.

“I’m really, really happy. I was dreaming about this moment,” Kittel said. “My team was fantastic all day and we did an incredible job to beat all the other teams, staying calm and attacking at the right moment.”

“There wasn’t any major tactic to stop Nizzolo — we just said it’s all or nothing and fully concentrated on the final sprint,” he said.

The German who rides for Etixx-QuickStep and had aready won the first stage of the Dubai Tour, outpaced Italy’s Elia Viviani, who came second, in Saturday’s 132 km city-based course that ended under the world’s tallest building — Burj Khalifa.

“My confidence is a thousand times higher than one year ago... This win in Dubai is a perfect base to start the season,” said Kittel.

Last year’s winner, Britain’s Mark Cavendish came third in the final stage but is way behind in the overall standings.

Spanish sprinter Juan Jose Lobato Del Valle who won the key stage three of the Dubai Tour on Friday ended in third place, six seconds behind Kittel.

Results of the 137km fourth and last stage of the Tour of Dubai on Saturday:

1. Marcel Kittel (GER/ETI) 132 km in 02hr 50min 47sec, 2. Elia Viviani (ITA/SKY) same time, 3. Mark Cavendish (GBR/DDD) s.t. 4. Andrea Palini (ITA/SKD) s.t. 5. Sacha Modolo (ITA/LAM) s.t.

Overall

1. Marcel Kittel (GER/ETI) 14hr 46min 54sec, 2. Giacomo Nizzolo (ITA/TRE) at 4sec, 3. Juan Jose Lobato Del Valle (ESP/MOV) 6, 4. Silvan Dillier (SUI/BMC) 16, 5. Gorka Izaguirre (ESP/MOV) 23.

Kennaugh retains overall as Murphy wins stage 3

American cyclist John Murphy won the third stage of Australia’s Herald Sun Tour in a photo finish on Saturday, but Britain’s Peter Kennaugh maintained his overall lead ahead of the final ride.

Murphy (United HealthCare) closed out the stage which ended in a sprint after a straightforward race, just pipping Italian Niccolo Bonifazio (Trek-Segafredo).

“It was a really close finish with Bonifazio,” admitted Murphy after the 146.2-kilometer ride from Traralgon to Inverloch in Victoria state.

“Definitely pretty happy to have that photo.”

Olympic gold-medallist Kennaugh maintained his lead in the overall standings, 13 seconds ahead of Sky team-mate and two-time Tour de France winner Chris Froome.

A group of five riders had broken away early and led for most of the race on Saturday, only to be reeled in with less than 10 kilometers to go.

“It was quite a straightforward day today which was really nice after the last few stages which have been all-go and quite hectic,” Kennaugh said.

“It was nice to sit back, keep the cadence low and the legs fresh for tomorrow.”

Saturday’s stage was earmarked for sprinters with rising star Caleb Ewan seen as the rider to beat. He finished sixth behind fellow Australians Steele Von Hoff (ONE), Jesse Kerrison (State of Matter/MAPP) and Anthony Giacoppo (AUS/Avanti IsoWhey Sport).

In the overall standings, Australia’s Jack Bobridge (Trek-Segafredo) is in third position followed by compatriot Jack Haig (Orica-GreenEDGE) and New Zealander Dion Smith (ONE).

The race will be decided on Sunday with a 121.8-kilometer stage featuring three ascents of Arthurs Seat on the Mornington Peninsula.