RAS AL-KHAIMAH: Defending Tour of Dubai champion Marcel Kittel of Quick Step outsprinted the field to clinch a second stage win after a 188km ride from Dubai to Ras Al-Khaimah on Wednesday.
Having won Tuesday’s opening of five stages, the German — who has won nine Tour de France stages — edged fellow sprint specialists Dylan Groenewegen and Jakub Mareczko after the peloton comfortably closed down a plucky escape 11km from the line.
Thursday’s third stage is also a flat run over 200km to Fujairah.
BMC beat Sky to team time trial in Valencia tour opener
BMC Racing Team beat out Team Sky to claim victory in a 37.9km team time trial on the opening stage of the Tour of Valencia with Italian Manuel Senni taking the leader’s jersey.
The American team set the pace with a time of 43min 14sec with Sky second 24 seconds back and Quick-Step Flores a further 28 seconds behind in third.
Vuelta a Espana winner Nairo Quintana leads the Movistar team as he prepares to tackle the Giro d’Italia-Tour de France double later in the year, but the Spanish team are better known for their climbing and finished 1min 05sec back on BMC in fourth.
Tour de France champion Chris Froome is not going head-to-head with old foe Quintana as he is instead defending his title as part of Sky’s team at the Herald Sun Tour in Australia this week.
Organizers unveil 575-mile Tour of California route
This year’s Tour of California will cover 575 miles from Sacramento to Pasadena, while the women’s race that precedes it in May will be the only UCI WorldTour race in the US this year.
Organizers revealed the route Tuesday, along with announcing that Jens Voigt, Freddie Rodriguez and three-time Olympic time trial champion Kristin Armstrong will serve as ambassadors.
After the opening circuit stage in Sacramento on May 14, the men’s race takes riders from Modesto to San Jose, Pismo Beach to Morro Bay, Santa Barbara to Santa Clarita and up the iconic climb of Mt. Baldy. There is also a time trial at Big Bear Lake before the final stage to Pasadena.
The women’s race, which begins May 11 in South Lake Tahoe, became the only US race on this year’s WorldTour calendar when the Philly Cycling Classic was canceled last month.
Having won Tuesday’s opening of five stages, the German — who has won nine Tour de France stages — edged fellow sprint specialists Dylan Groenewegen and Jakub Mareczko after the peloton comfortably closed down a plucky escape 11km from the line.
Thursday’s third stage is also a flat run over 200km to Fujairah.
BMC beat Sky to team time trial in Valencia tour opener
BMC Racing Team beat out Team Sky to claim victory in a 37.9km team time trial on the opening stage of the Tour of Valencia with Italian Manuel Senni taking the leader’s jersey.
The American team set the pace with a time of 43min 14sec with Sky second 24 seconds back and Quick-Step Flores a further 28 seconds behind in third.
Vuelta a Espana winner Nairo Quintana leads the Movistar team as he prepares to tackle the Giro d’Italia-Tour de France double later in the year, but the Spanish team are better known for their climbing and finished 1min 05sec back on BMC in fourth.
Tour de France champion Chris Froome is not going head-to-head with old foe Quintana as he is instead defending his title as part of Sky’s team at the Herald Sun Tour in Australia this week.
Organizers unveil 575-mile Tour of California route
This year’s Tour of California will cover 575 miles from Sacramento to Pasadena, while the women’s race that precedes it in May will be the only UCI WorldTour race in the US this year.
Organizers revealed the route Tuesday, along with announcing that Jens Voigt, Freddie Rodriguez and three-time Olympic time trial champion Kristin Armstrong will serve as ambassadors.
After the opening circuit stage in Sacramento on May 14, the men’s race takes riders from Modesto to San Jose, Pismo Beach to Morro Bay, Santa Barbara to Santa Clarita and up the iconic climb of Mt. Baldy. There is also a time trial at Big Bear Lake before the final stage to Pasadena.
The women’s race, which begins May 11 in South Lake Tahoe, became the only US race on this year’s WorldTour calendar when the Philly Cycling Classic was canceled last month.
