Tanel Kangert (Astana Pro Team) claimed a well deserved victory in the queen stage of the second Abu Dhabi Tour as Vincenzo Nibali decided to give a chance to his faithful domestique who has played a key role in many of his great successes. In a day of echelons on the way to the famous mountain Jebel Hafeet, Kangert and Nicolas Roche (Team Sky) took the opportunity to come across to lone leader Carlos Verona (Orica-BikeExchange) 6.5km before the summit. Kangert rode away solo with 3.2km to go to take over from Mark Cavendish (Team Dimension Data) in the lead of the overall ranking on the eve of the conclusive stage.
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STAGE RESULT
1 - Tanel Kangert (Astana Pro Team) 150km in 3h31’31”, average speed 42.549km/h
2 - Nicolas Roche (Team Sky) at 17"
3 - Mekseb Debesay (Team Dimension Data) at 33"
JERSEYS
- RED JERSEY, sponsored by the Abu Dhabi Sports Council (General Classification by time) – Tanel Kangert (Astana Pro Team)
- GREEN JERSEY, sponsored by Nation Towers (General Classification by points) – Mark Cavendish (Team Dimension Data)
- WHITE JERSEY, sponsored by Abu Dhabi Sports (Best Young Rider, born after 1 January 1991) – Julien Bernard (Trek - Segafredo)
- BLACK JERSEY, sponsored by Etihad (Intermediate Sprint Classification) – Jens Keukeleire (Orica - BikeExchange)
GENERAL CLASSIFICATION1 - Tanel Kangert (Astana Pro Team)
2 - Nicola Roche (Team Sky) at 21"
3 - Diego Ulissi (Lampre - Merida) at 43"
4 - Vincenzo Nibali (Astana Pro Team) at 1'00"
5 - Alberto Contador (Tinkoff) s.t.
QUOTES
In the press conference, the winner and Red Jersey Tanel Kangert said: "I have to thank my team for the freedom they gave me for this race. We had two cards to play. It sounds like a cliché to thank the team but it’s true, we rode from the beginning and I reached the climb fresh. Vincenzo Nibali did a good job behind me. We’ve had four good years together. He’s a captain who gives a lot of confidence to his team-mates. I’ve never raced that late in the year. I’ve never had so many kilometres in my legs in the same season. I can’t wait to go home but I’ll go home happy because I came with the ambition of making the top 10, maybe the top 5 if I was being lucky, so to win here is beyond expectations".
After the stage, the Green Jersey, Mark Cavendish, said: "I was very happy to be in the Abu Dhabi Sports Council red jersey today. It was very nice to wear it. As a team, we had another good ride. Meksem Debesay has been riding at the front these last two days and he was able to compete with the best climbers uphill today. I’m happy to keep the green jersey and I hope to retain it tomorrow as well".
The White Jersey, Julien Bernard, said: "I usually manage to maintain a good level of fitness until the very end of the season, with not putting on weight or losing motivation, so the team decided to send me here, firstly to help Giacomo [Nizzolo] in the sprints, secondly to play my own cards on this climb. That’s what we did. I stayed under pressure till the Abu Dhabi Tour so I’m delighted to get the white jersey here today".
The Black Jersey, Jens Keukeleire, said: "I’m happy with one more day in the black jersey. But after two stages in the breakaway, I took an easy day today. I didn’t really want to go away again today. I had a look at who was making a move and it was ok for me to keep the black jersey".
TOMORROW'S STAGE: Stage 4 – YAS ISLAND STAGE / YAS MARINA CIRCUIT (143KM)
The final stage is entirely on Yas Island. There are 26 laps on the Yas Marina Circuit, each of 5.5km with three Intermediate Sprints as we count down to the finale. The first Intermediate Sprint is at lap 11, with 15 laps to go; the second at 10 laps to go and the last Intermediate Sprints with just five laps to go. Last year during the Yas Island Stage, for the first time ever in a men's professional road race, live on-board bike camera footage was made available and used for live television race coverage.
Last km
On the perfect tarmac of a 5.5km race circuit with wide roads and large, sweeping bends. The final 250 metres are on straight, flat asphalt.
POINTS OF INTEREST
YAS MARINA CIRCUIT
The circuit is home to the Formula1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix and is open to the public with daily events, including Driving Experiences, Passenger Experiences, Private Driving Tuition, and the Race Car Driver License Course. Every week the 5.5km circuit is open to the public for sports activities: the StartYas on Sunday and the TrainYas on Tuesdays, open from 6 to 10pm, encouraging cyclists and runners to use the track as a sports facility.
FERRARI WORLD, ABU DHABI
The world’s first Ferrari-branded theme park is home to a winning mix of Ferrari inspired rides and attractions, the biggest Ferrari Store and a range of authentic Italian dining options. Attractions include the highest rollercoaster loop in the world (Flying Aces) and the world’s fastest rollercoaster (Formula Rossa) with a top speed of 250kmph achieved in a mere 4.9 seconds.
YAS ISLAND
As an emerging leisure destination only 30 minutes from the UAE capital, Yas Island features the state-of-the-art Yas Marina Circuit that plays host to the Formula1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix every year, as well as theme parks, exclusive hotels and golf courses.
YAS VICEROY HOTEL
This unique five-star hotel is set half on land and half on water, overlooking the F1 circuit. The main characteristic of the hotel is its covering, a 219m expanse of sweeping steel and glass panels that provides a veil draped over the two hotel towers, linked by a bridge that crosses the racetrack. The lighting system, made up of over 5,096 diamond-shaped glass panels, changes colour through cable TV screens and creates a stunning optical effect. Inside the Yas Viceroy at the Ristorante Cipriani you can taste the dishes designed by Harry’s Bar in Venice and classic Italian specialties.
YAS MALL
With a surface of 235,000m2 and a range of international brands, the Yas Mall is the largest mall in Abu Dhabi and the second largest in the Emirates. With over 60 restaurants and coffee shops, Yas Mall also features a 4D movie cinema, the super maxiscreen of the VOX movie theatre and, among other things, the first Lego Concept Store in the region.
YAS BEACH
Set on a majestic stretch of white sand, and easily connected to all of the island’s diverse leisure activities, this laid-back beach is a blissful new development on the emirate’s entertainment district. Sun seekers holidaying at any of Yas Island’s seven hotels and hotel apartments can now enjoy complimentary access to Yas Beach.
YAS LINKS
Set among rolling hills and delicate mangrove plantations, Yas Links Abu Dhabi – designed by Kyle Phillips, the world-renowned course architect – is the Middle East’s only true links course. Nestled on the western shores of Yas Island, Abu Dhabi’s landmark entertainment destination, every daunting, dynamic Yas Links hole has sparkling coastline views of the Arabian Gulf – indeed eight run right up along the coastline.