Marcel Kittel took it all in Dubai. There was breakaway derring do in Australia and France. Nairo Quintana made it look easy on slopes us mere mortals struggle to walk up.
Dubai Tour Stage 5: Dubai to Dubai, 124km
Marcel Kittel and his Quick Step Floors team made it stage win number three and wrapped up the overall title for the second time in his career. The German simply had too much power on a messy run winning handily over Elia Viviani (Sky) with Astana young gun Riccardo Minali holding for third. Final GC podium saw Kittel on the top step with Dylan Groenewegen (LottoNL-Jumbo) at +18secs and Trek-Segafredo’s John Degenkolb at +20secs. Best young rider went to Groenewegen, while UAE Abu Dhabi were delighted with their best team trophy.
Highlights from Global Cycling Network…
Thrilled to see this result for Tom Stewart and whole ONE Pro Cycling team, especially after their off season problems…
3 stage wins, one points jersey and one overall title is worth celebrating…
Full report at Cycling News.
Race Website Race Twitter #DubaiTour
Jayco Herald Sun Tour Stage 3: Benalla to Mitchelton Winery, 165.6km
Travis McCabe took a surprise win on a stage billed for the sprinters. In a finish marred by late crashes, the UnitedHealthcare rider outsprinted the man with the best moustache in the peloton – Mitch Docker (Orica-Scott), with Aqua Blue’s Leigh Howard rounding out the podium. The overall
Highlights…
That’s one happy podium. Full marks for the moustache and #capsnothats for Mitch.
Aqua Blue’s Aaron Gate put on a fine show of grit of determination, it took the combined might of Sky and Orica-Scott to bring the Kiwi back after a day in the break and solo attempt.
Full report at Cycling News.
Race Website Race Twitter #SunTour
Etoile de Bessèges Stage 4: Chuslan to Laudun, 152.9km
With the break swept up in the last kilometre, Arnaud Demare (FDJ) got the better of Katusha-Alpecin’s Alexander Kristoff in the sprint. Christophe Laporte rounded out the podium for Cofidis. Lilian Calmejane (Direct-Energie) retains the leader’s jersey by 17secs from Mads Wurtz (Katusha-Alpecin) with Tony Gallopin (Lotto-Soudal) a futher second back in third. As so often happens in this race it’s all going to come down to the final time trail.
A day on the road for the Angry Cats (in French)
Full report at Cycling News.
Race Website Race Twitter #EtoiledeBesseges
Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana Stage 4: Segorbe to Llucena, 180km
Nairo Quintana (Movistar) threw down one heck of a gauntlet on the queen stage. The Colombian simply rode everyone off his wheel on the ascent to the summit of the Mas de la Costa, tackling the horrific 20% ramps as though he were out for a Sunday afternoon jaunt. Merhawi Kudus (Dimension-Data) was the only one to match Quintana on the early ramps and held on for second place, with Amaro Antunes (W52/FC Porto) in third. Fifty four seconds behind race leader BMC’s Greg van Avermaet at the start of the day, Don Nairo now leads by 13secs from BMC’s Ben Hermans.
Video set to start just as they hit the final climb – just enjoy the spectacle!…
The final ascent…
Embed from Getty ImagesCyril Gautier (Ag2r La Mondiale) bossed the breakaway, mopping up maximum points on five of the six climbs and the sprint points to boot. #BRAVO
Full report at Cycling News.
Race Website Race Twitter #VCV2017
Header image: Marcel Kittel © Artur Widak/NurPhoto via Getty Images