Marcel Kittel (Quick-Step Floors) made it two in a row on stage 2 of the fourth Dubai Tour at Ras Al Khaiman as he came from behind to powerfully outsprint up-and-coming flying Dutchman Dylan Groenewegen (Lotto NL-Jumbo) while the young Italian Jakub Mareczko (Willier Triestina) took third place. The German increased his lead and his confidence with a second straight overall title in sight.
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STAGE RESULT
1 - Marcel Kittel (Quick-Step Floors) 186km in 4h25’33”, average speed 42.025km/h
2 - Dylan Groenewegen (Team Lotto NL - Jumbo) s.t.
3 - Jakub Mareczko (Wilier Triestina) 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)
2 - Dylan Groenewegen (Team Lotto NL - Jumbo) at 0:08"
3 - Nicola Boem (Bardiani CSF) at 0:13''
JERSEYS
- The Blue Jersey, sponsored by 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 Red Jersey will be worn tomorrow by John Degenkolb (Trek - Segafredo), third in the General individual classification by points after Marcel Kittel (Blue Jersey) and Dylan Groenewegen (White Jersey)
- 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
Stage winner, overall and points classification leader Marcel Kittel said: “Today it was a different fight to yesterday at the end. Everyone had fresh legs. There weren’t many possibilities to stretch up the peloton before the finish line. As a team we just came really late into the last corner. It didn’t give us the chance to organize a lead out so Fabio Sabatini had to go from 1.5km and he brought me back. It was still very good teamwork. I’m not the kind of rider who will say they that I’ll win all the flat stages of the Dubai Tour. As everyone could see today, it can be very tight.”
Best young rider Dylan Groenewegen said after the podium ceremony: “I wanted to be first but I have to be content with second, as Marcel Kittel was strong at the end today. I think it was possible for me to win today but I launched my sprint a bit too early. I sprinted on the right side and I saw the Quick-Step going on my left. Had I accelerated 50 meters later, I could have won.”
Intermediate sprints leader Nicola Boem said: “Just like yesterday, it was our duty to send someone in the breakaway. Today’s it was up to [Simone] Andreetta. At the end we tried to give Paolo Simion a lead out but other teams’ trains are much more competitive than ours. We have given our best. All combined, we have saved this jersey. It couldn’t be any better.”
TOMORROW'S STAGE
Stage 3 – Dubai Silicon Oasis Stage (200km)
From Dubai to Al Aqah
Sign-on procedures: 09.15-10.30
Alignment: 10.35
Start - KM0: 10.50 (transfer 6,100m)
Finish: 15.00 - 15.30
Race Headquarters: DIMC - Dubai International Marine Club – Mina Seyahi, Al Sofouh Road, Al Seyahi Street, Dubai, UAE
ROUTE
The stage connects Dubai Marina beaches on the Persian Gulf with Al Aqah on the Indian Ocean (Gulf of Oman). The route runs across the entire stretch of desert between Dubai and Fujairah, crossing the territory of four different Emirates (Dubai, Sharjah, Ras Al Khaimah, Fujairah).
The race runs towards the desert, touching the Silicon Oasis area, with a sequence of roundabouts along the way (on wide roadway) ahead of the first Intermediate Sprint. Long straights lead to the Hajar Mountains, cutting the desert ahead of a sequence of short, minor hills. The course then arrives in Fujairah (where there is another sequence of roundabouts) and then continues on long straights crossing Khor Fakkan, for another Intermediate Sprint ahead of the stage finish.
Last kilometres
The last km on wide and well paved asphalted roads with the finish line set on a 500m-long, 8m-wide asphalted roadway. Take note of a well lit 500m tunnel 2,500m before the finish.
