Echelons, sprints, solo wins and smiles (well, not for everyone)… we’ve got it all.
Dubai Tour Stage 3: Dubai to Al Aqah, 200km
A sandblasted peloton battled winds and at one point each other on the road to Al Aqah. Out of the chaos of a tunnel-induced messy sprint that nodding style of Trek-Segafredo’s John Degenkolb hit the front and just pipped Reinardt Janse van Rensburg (Dimension-Data) for the win – the cycling world exploded with joy!! Sonny Colbrelli (Bahrain-Merida) rounded out the podium.
A battle-scarred Marcel Kittel (Quick Step Floors) retains the overall lead despite being involved in an altercation with Astana’s Andrey Grivko on the road – the Ukrainian was subsequently disqualified from the race, although (at the time of writing) Kittel is still furious and is calling for a six-month ban for the rider.
Highlights from the Global Cycling Network team…
Joyful…
A hard day at the office…
Full report at Cycling News.
Race Website Race Twitter #DubaiTour
Jayco Herald Sun Tour Stage 1: Wangaratta to Falls Creek, 174.2km
There were surely more explosions of joy from Australia as Orica-Scott’s domestique extraordinaire Damien Howson took a superb solo victory after attacking with Kenny Elissonde (Sky) on the last climb. Jai Hindley (Korda Mentha Real Estate Australia) caught the Frenchman on the run in to finish second on the day. Howson now holds the lead by 38secs from Hindley.
Highlights from Orica-Scott – enjoy!
All of the smiles…
Full report at Cycling News.
Race Website Race Twitter #SunTour
Etoile de Bessèges Stage 2: Nîmes to Rodilhan, 152.7km
Alexander Kristoff and his Katusha-Alpecin team took full advantage of the echelon action to take his first first win of the season. The Norwegian out-sprinted Rudy Barbier (Ag2r) and relegated race leader Arnaud Demare (FDJ) to third. The Norewgian now holds the race lead by 4secs with three stages to go.
Short highlights from France 3 here (race news starts at 4.01 mins)
Full report at Cycling News.
Race Website Race Twitter #EtoiledeBesseges
Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana Stage 2: Alicante to Denia, 180.6km
Tony Martin may now be kitted out in the red of Katusha-Alpecin but today was pure vintage #TTTony. The German attacked on the last climb, held his nerve on a sinuous, slippery descent, and powered away to take a superb solo win. Pim Ligthart (Roompot – Nederlandse Loterij) scampered to second with LottoNL-Jumbo’s Primoz Roglic in third. BMC’s Greg van Avermaet goes into the leader’s jersey.
Video highlights…
Tough day out on the road…
Full report at Cycling News.
Race Website Race Twitter #VCV2017
Header image: John Degenkolb ©Tim De WaeleKT/Tim De Waele/Corbis via Getty Images