DUBAI // Mark Cavendish retained the Dubai Tour lead after finishing second on Day 2 of the four-day event, but the Etixx Quick-Step rider conceded it will be difficult for him to retain the blue jersey on Stage 3.
The Briton won Stage 1 in a photo finish on Wednesday and finished narrowly behind Elia Viviani yesterday to ensure a two-second lead at the top of the general classification. However, the sprinter is expected to find today’s third stage a lot tougher going given the 205-kilometre route ends with a 60km climb into the Hajar Mountains.
With the gaps between the riders likely to be wider than in the first two stages, Cavendish’s lead at the top of the general standings is at risk of being overturned by a climbing specialist, such as Astana’s Vincenzo Nibali or John Degenkolb of Team Giant – Alpecin.
“Can I retain it? I’ll try and anything is possible,” the 2011 world champion said. “I don’t think I can win the stage, but I will give everything I can to try and defend the jersey. It’s not a failure if I can’t, but I’ll try my best to hang on to it.”
Of his second stage loss to Viviani yesterday, he added: “Obviously, I’d like to win and I’m disappointed with second, but I take a lot of positives form my sprint.
“It took me a while to get up to top speed, but Etixx Quick-Step rode really strong all day.
“It’s OK. I’ve been beaten by Viviani before, and I’ll be beaten by him again, so I’m not too disappointed.”
gmeenaghan@thenational.ae
