There’s life in the old dogs yet with Samu Sanchez, Philippe Gilbert, Fabian Cancellara, Sylvain Chavanel and Tom Boonen all at the sharp end of their stages yesterday. We also had some young pups putting in impressive performances and we wrapped up a firecracker of a women’s race. Here are your Final KMs from yesterday’s Tour of Dubai, Ladies Tour of Qatar, Etoile de Besseges, Herald Sun Tour and Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana.

Dubai Tour, Stage 3, Dubai Int’l Marine Club to Hatta Dam, 172km

It was the Queen Stage and the flurry of activity in the last kilometre saw Samu Sanchez try to get his BMC teammate Philippe Gilbert into prime position (albeit with Fabian Cancellara on his wheel) but it was not to be. Juan Lobato from Movistar cranked it up a notch and crossed the line solo, followed by Giacomo Nizzolo (Trek-Segafredo) and Silvan Dillier (BMC). Cancellara and PhilGil were 4th and 5th but Marcel Kittel surprised everyone by coming in 6th, ensuring he’s only 6secs behind in the GC.

Nizzolo now wears the blue leader’s jersey and leads the points category; Soufiane Haddi (Skydive Dubai) is in the best young rider’s jersey.

Ladies Tour of Qatar, Stage 4, Aspire Zone to Doha Corniche, 73km

Chloe Hosking (Wiggle High5) took the final stage of a well-fought Tour of Qatar in a bunch sprint; Kirsten Wild (Hitec) and Monique Van Der Ree (Lares-Waowdeals) were second and third respectively. Trixi Worrack (Canyon SRAM) took the overall GC, with Boels-Dolmans teammates Romy Kasper and Ellen van Dijk on the 2nd and 3rd steps of the podium. Wild won the points classifications and Anouska Koster (Raboliv) took home the best young rider jersey. Canyon SRAM ended the tour as best team.

Herald Sun Tour, Stage 2, Yarra Glen to Moe, 144.2km

It might not have been a day for the sprinters in Dubai, but it sure was in Melbourne. One sprinter, in particular – Orica’s Caleb Ewan. United Healthcare’s Tanner Putt (what a NAME!) was second with Sky’s Peter Kennaugh and Chris Froome coming in 3rd and 4th respectively, protecting Kennaugh’s place at the top of the GC. Kennaugh also still holds the points jersey; Chris Hamilton keeps best young rider’s jersey but Froome loses KOM to Chris Harper (SOM). Here are your highlights, courtesy of Orica’s Backstage Pass:

Etoile de Besseges, Stage 3, Besseges to Besseges, 152.6km

Team Angry Cat Direct Energie are absolutely bossing this race. It was Sylvain Chavanel (let’s all pronounce that name with gusto!) who took stage 3, with Tony Gallopin (Lotto-Soudal) and Arthur Vichot (FDJ) rounding out the podium.

Check out Chava’s shoes! … I’m not so sure about those. 

Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana, Stage 3, Sagunto to Alzira, 173.5km

The Jumbo Bees (LottoNI-Jumbo) put a magnificent win up on the board when young Dylan Groenewegen hitched a ride on the Cofidis lead-out train and got the better (by a hair) of Nacer Bouhanni on the line. Alexander Porsev (Katusha) took third but, I say, I say, who do we have here? Tom Boonen came in 4th!

Wout Poels (Sky) keeps his lead in the GC and points classifications; Dan Martin (Etixx-QuickStep) holds onto KOM.

This is a 20-min video, fast-forward to 15mins in and that takes you to the 7km-to-go mark. 

Links:

Official site for Herald Sun Tour, Twitter #SunTour

Official site for Dubai Tour, Twitter #DubaiTour

Official site for Ladies Tour of Qatar, Twitter #LTOQ2016

Official site for Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana,Twitter #VCV2016

Header image: Final podium for the Ladies Tour of Qatar: l-r Romy Kasper, Trixi Worrack and Ellen van Dijk  © Qatar Cycling Federation/Paumer/Kåre Dehlie Thorstad