Kristoff claims opening stage

Abu Dhabi : Alexander Kristoff (UAE Team Emirates) came out on top on stage 1 of the Abu Dhabi Tour. The European road champion came off Caleb Ewan’s (Mitchelton-Scott) wheel in the final 100 metres and held off a late challenge from Andrea Guardini (Bardiani CSF).

Ewan looked to have the win in the bag but faded to third on the stage.

Kristoff looked out of it with 200m to go but jumped from behind Marcel Kittel (Katusha-Alpecin) onto Ewan’s tail before powering to the line. Despite a headwind, the Norwegian had enough in the tank to take the win by a clear margin.

Kittel, who came into the race without a win so far this season, looked well-placed but was crowded out in the sprint and went backwards as the rest of the fast-men opened up towards the line.

Mark Cavendish (Dimension Data) crashed out of the race in the neutralized zone, suffering concussion and whiplash. The British sprinter remounted and carried on for the opening few kilometres before pulling out of the race.

Kristoff, who also won the final stage of the Tour of Oman, leads the race going into stage 2.

“In the final I lost my rhythm and I lost [lead-out man Robertro] Ferrari, but then I found Caleb Ewan in the end and I know he’s fast,” Kristoff said at the finish. “He started to really go for the sprint but I was in the draft and then managed to come round and hold on in the headwind all the way to the line. 

Results

Madinat Zayed to Madinat Zayed, 189km

1. Alexander Kristoff (Nor) UAE Team Emirates, in 4 hrs 48 min 24 secs

2. Andrea Guardini (Ita) Bardiani CSF

3. Caleb Ewan (Aus) Mitchelton-Scott

4. Elia Viviani (Ita) Quick-Step Floors

5. Daniel McLay (GBr) EF Education First-Drapac

6. Niccolo Bonifazio (Ita) Bahrain-Merida

7. Michael Bresciani (Ita) Bardiani CSF

8. Danny van Poppel (Ned) LottoNL-Jumbo

9. Rudy Barbier (Fra) Ag2r La Mondiale

10. André Greipel (Ger) Lotto Soudal, all at same time

General classification

1. Alexander Kristoff (Nor) UAE Team Emirates, in 4 hrs 48 min 14 secs

2. Andrea Guardini (Ita) Bardiani CSF, at 4 secs 0:00:04

3. Caleb Ewan (Aus) Mitchelton-Scott, at 6 secs 0:00:06

4. Nikolay Trusov (Rus) Gazprom-Rusvelo

5. Vincenzo Albanese (Ita) Bardiani CSF, at same time