The big-name sprinters are ready to go head to head at the fifth edition of Dubai Tour, but 24 hours before the first showdown, as they posed together for photographs under the Dubai Frame, they all carefully hedged their bets, avoiding any promises of victory or any prizefighter braggadocio before the first stage.
Last year's winner Marcel Kittel (Katusha-Alpecin) joined Mark Cavendish (Dimension Data), Nacer Bouhanni (Cofidis), Alexander Kristoff (UAE Team Emirates), Elia Viviani (Quick-Step Floors) and John Degenkolb (Trek-Segafredo) at the press conference on Monday afternoon. The big six will clash for the next five days, with Dylan Groenewegen (LottoNL-Jumbo), Sonny Colbrelli (Bahrain-Merida) and Jakub Mareczko (Wilier Triestina-Selle Italia) also expected to be in the fight.
Kittel won three sprints at the 2017 Dubai Tour to secure the overall victory for the second time. At that time he was protected by the well-established Quick-Step Floors blue train. Now he is at Katusha-Alpecin and his train is a work in progress, while Viviani will ride the Quick-Step Floors train after a game of musical chairs amongst the sprinters.
ADVERTISEMENT
Kristoff left Katusha-Alpecin for UAE Team Emirates, and like many of the skyscrapers on the Dubai Marina skyline, his lead-out is also still under construction. Only Cavendish can count on his trusted train, but he is rebuilding his form after injury and illness wrecked his 2017 season.
Kittel could secure a hat-trick of overall victories this year, but he insisted one win would be enough to make his week in the warmth of the Middle East a success.
"I've come here like every year, but I've not started my first race of 2018 yet and I've changed teams. We need to get used to each other, but we'll try our best, go for victory and take it day by day. We're not concentrating on a hat-trick but will take it more easily," he said with caution.
Cavendish's month of racing in the Middle East
Degenkolb the overall favourite?
You can read more at Cyclingnews.com
via Cyclingnews Latest News http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/dubai-tour-sprinters-avoid-any-braggadocio-before-first-showdown-gallery
No comments:
Post a Comment