The Dubai Tour starts as it ended last year, with Marcel Kittel (Quick-Step Floors) first across the finish line in Dubai (Palm Jumeirah). The German rider won a bunch sprint and took the lead in the overall General Classification, ahead of second-placed the Dutch National Road Champion Dylan Groenewegen (Team Lotto NL - Jumbo), claiming the first White Jersey of this Dubai Tour and 2015 Dubai Tour winner Mark Cavendish (Team Dimension Data) in third who punctured in the closing stages. Marcel Kittel is also the points leader’s Red Jersey.

STAGE RESULT
1 - Marcel Kittel (Quick-Step Floors) 181km in 4h06’33”, average speed 44.047km/h
2 - Dylan Groenewegen (Team Lotto NL - Jumbo) s.t.
3 - Mark Cavendish (Team Dimension Data) s.t.
4 - John Degenkolb (Trek - Segafredo) s.t. 
5 - Sasha Modolo (UAE Abu Dhabi) s.t.

GENERAL CLASSIFICATION
1 - Marcel Kittel (Quick-Step Floors) 181km in 4h06’33”
2 - Nicola Boem (Bardiani CSF) at 0:03''
3 - Dylan Groenewegen (Team Lotto NL - Jumbo) at 0:04"

DOWNLOAD

• Stage 1 Results
• Stage 1 Photo Gallery
• Video Highlights (digital media only / NO broadcast)
• Dubai Tour official roadbook
• Dubai Tour route details

JERSEYS

• The Blue Jersey, sponsored by the Commercial Bank of Dubai (General individual classification by time) - Marcel Kittel, (Quick-Step Floors)
• The Red Jersey, sponsored by Emirates (General individual classification by points) - Marcel Kittel, (Quick-Step Floors)
• The White Jersey, sponsored by RTA - Roads and Transport Authority (Best Young Rider born after 1 January 1992) - Dylan Groenewegen (Team Lotto NL - Jumbo)
• The UAE Flag Jersey, sponsored by DHA - Dubai Health Authority (Intermediate Sprint Jersey Classification) - Nicola Boem (Bardiani CSF)

PRESS CONFERENCE
The stage winner and first race leader Marcel Kittel said in the press conference: “Obviously, compared to last year, I have one extra year of racing under my belt. I see it as a process. When I joined this team, the Dubai Tour was like the world championship for me. I wanted to prove myself to the team. Now I know everyone in the team, I knew them before but as team-mates – we’ve had a good time and hard times together. Having had a complete season last year means it’s a different start this year. In the first race of the year, even with the world’s biggest team, you’re not sure to win, but we’ve done a great job! Mark Cavendish has bad luck [a flat tyre with 4km to go] today but we’ll sprint against each other again many times this year. The GC is still a goal, now even more after winning stage one, but we’ll see how it goes on Hatta Dam. The overall can be lost by a second and the lead can’t be secured before the last stage.”

TOMORROW'S STAGE
Stage 2 – Ras Al Khaimah Stage (186km)
From Dubai city to Ras Al Khaimah
Sign-on procedures: 09.25-10.40
Alignment: 10.45
Start - KM0: 11.00 (transfer 6,100m)
Finish: Approx. 15.05
Race Headquarters: DIMC - Dubai International Marine Club – Mina Seyahi, Al Sofouh Road, Al Seyahi Street, Dubai, UAE

ROUTE
The second stage connects Dubai with the northernmost Emirate of Ras Al Khaimah, running through the Emirates of Sharjah, Ajman and Umm Al Quwain. It leaves Dubai on fast, wide roads towards the desert, with a brief detour into the Dubai Design District (first Intermediate Sprint). The route then runs along Sharjah and Ajman on long straights roads (second Intermediate Sprint). Once in Marjan Island, the course makes a circuit of 14km before heading towards Ras Al Khaimah. The finish line is in the Emirate's capital.

Last kilometres
The last km of the race are on wide roads with well-paved asphalt. The home stretch is 300m long and 7.5m wide.

POINTS OF INTEREST
186KM TO FINISH LINE - DUBAI INTERNATIONAL MARINE CLUB - MINA SEYAHI - DIMC
Dubai International Marine Club was established in 1988 in Mina Seyahi by His Highness Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed Al Maktoum to safeguard traditional watersports and promote Dubai both nationally and internationally. It is located in a prime area in the city, which has developed around the club over the years, and it now sits in the heart of new Dubai with its numerous hotels and restaurants. With its 300-berth marina, helipad, sailing school, race department, offices and venue facilities DIMC hosts more than 50 events each year in various classes including a full programme of traditional events.

186KM TO FINISH LINE - DUBAI TOUR FAN VILLAGE
The Dubai Tour Fan Village at DIMC – Dubai International Marine Club is a free access area where visitors can feel and live the race atmosphere. From 9.30am to 3.30pm the fans are invited to watch all the pre-race procedures and enjoy all the fun activities. All riders will sign in at a special podium and will be interviewed and photographed by the media. During this period, fans can ask the riders for signatures and “selfies” and there will be a special jerseys and trophy parade – all with live background music and an English-speaking commentator. Next to the podium area there will be the paddock zone with the sponsors’ and partners’ stands. The show will last all day and fans are guaranteed to be entertained by displays from the former BikeTrial World Champion and multiple Guinness World Record holder Vittorio Brumotti and other performers.

166KM TO FINISH LINE - DUBAI DESIGN DISTRICT (d3)
The Dubai Design District – also known as d3 – is a purpose-built community dedicated to promoting and nurturing emerging local talent and providing a creative home to established international design, luxury and fashion brands. d3’s facilities includes residential, hospitality, retail and office space on a 1.8km long waterfront populated with food, beverage and retail outlets, hotels, and a multi-use outdoor space.

92KM TO FINISH LINE - AJMAN
Ajman is a small emirate overlooking the Arabian Gulf, with tourist attractions including the Ajman's corniche, the Ajman National Museum situated at Ajman Fort and the Red Fort. The Al Manama museum, in the enclave of Manama, highlights the region’s heritage, traditional architecture and crafts.

68KM TO FINISH LINE - UMM AL QUWAIN
Umm al-Quwain – literally “Mother of Two Powers” – is the least populous of the seven sovereign emirates in the United Arab Emirates and was established as an independent sheikhdom in 1775 by Sheikh Majid Al Mualla. Its main attractions include the UAQ Museum, the water park Dreamland, and the UAQ Islands.

31KM TO FINISH LINE - AL MARJAN ISLAND
Al Marjan Island is a group of four coral-shaped islands – Breeze Island, Treasure Island, Dream Island and View Island – forming a man-made archipelago in Ras al-Khaimah, in the Arabian Gulf. Extending 4.5 kilometres (2.8mi) into the sea and covering an area of 2,700,000 square metres, Al Marjan Island boasts resorts, beaches and other attractive tourist destinations.

FINISH LINE - RAS AL KHAIMAH
The UAE’s northernmost emirate, Ras Al Khaimah, features over 64km of coast on the Arabian Gulf and features gold beaches, lush mangroves and terracotta deserts and the towering Hajar Mountains. Its attractions also include the National Museum of Ras Al Khaimah and the amazing Dhayah Fort, 18km north of RAK City.