Team Dimension Data rider Mark Cavendish has set his sights on the overall race leader blue jersey after coming out on top of a bunch sprint finish to win Stage 3 of the Dubai Tour on Thursday.
Cavendish, the 2015 Dubai Tour champion, held off the challenge of Cofidis Solutions Credits rider Nacer Bouhanni and Marcel Kittel of Team Katusha Alpecin to cross the finish line first in Fujairah in three hours, 53 minutes and 46 seconds.
Victory in the 180-kilometre Dubai Silicon Oasis Stage moved Cavendish up to second in the general classification standings, four seconds behind new leader Elia Viviani. The Italian Quick-Step Floors rider will wear the blue jersey for Stage 4 on Friday after previous leader, Dylan Groenewegen of Team Lotto NL - Jumbo, received a 20 second penalty from the general classification jury after the finish line. Dutchman Groenewegen has retained the red jersey as leader of the general individual classification by points.
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Read more:
Stage 2 highlights: Elia Viviani wins Stage 2 to celebrate birthday in style
Stage 1 highlights: LottoNL-Jumbo's Dylan Groenewegen wins Stage 1
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After securing the stage win, Cavendish immediately turned his attention to trying to close the gap on Viviani and the blue jersey.
“I had a good feeling today, especially after yesterday, I knew I was there," the 32-year-old Briton said. "I knew the team was there. I can't beat Viviani in a track sprint race so I had to wait, wait and wait, and use my jump.
"Any time of the year, it's important to win. It's good for my account. Already with this win, I've won the same amount of races I won in the whole season last year.
"The thing I'm disappointed about is that yesterday, when I realized I couldn't win, had I kept going, I would have come second and be in the lead now. It's my own fault. But I'll try and get the blue jersey in the next two days."
Flying the flag for UAE Team Emirates, Alexander Kristoff was involved in the bunch sprint to cross the line in seventh place. Kristoff, competing in his first race for UAE Team Emirates, is in ninth place in the general classification, 14 seconds behind Viviani.
“Our lead-out train was perfect and we were at the front in the right moment, but we had no luck," the 30-year-old Norwegian said. "We were boxed in to the left and couldn’t find any open road to accelerate. If we could have found some space, I feel I would have had a better chance of competing for the victory as my legs felt good today.”
Next up for the riders is Friday's 172km Dubai Municipality Stage, the only hilly stage of the Dubai Tour.
Starting from SkyDive Dubai in the Marina and ending at Hatta Dam, Stage 4 includes long stretches in the desert and will cross the Hajar Mountains. The stage will also see the riders pass through two neighbouring emirates, Sharjah and Ras Al Khaimah.
Stage 4 comprises two short climbs, the first a soft climb with a gradient average between three and four per cent. The second climb is approximately 1.5km long with an average gradient of eight per cent and peaking at 11 per cent.
The final 3km of the stage is a continuous ascent from the centre of Hatta to the finish line on the Hatta Dam. A short, sharp rise of 200m, with gradients between 12 and 17 per cent, await the riders before a 150m home stretch.
