UAE Tour 2019 – Stage 2 Preview

By David Hunter

Yas Mall – Abu Dhabi 180.4km

We start with a sprint.

Very typical of races in this part of the world. We have a flat route and the expectation of a big sprint, but will we get one?

Weather

Sunshine, but we do have some wind around. For the whole stage we have 30km/h wind, coming from the North-West. That is enough to create echelons and play havoc with the hopes of the sprinters. Almost the whole stage takes place on the coastline, meaning there is little protection for the riders. This is going to be a nervous day.

Crosswind Fun

Which of the GC riders will benefit from the wind? In terms of team strength and experience in windy conditions, it looks like QuickStep, Sky, Movistar, Jumbo-Visma and Sunweb could be the ones looking to split the race. They will sense an opportunity to test out the teams of Dan Martin, Richie Porte, Gorka Izagirre and Ilnur Zakarin, all of whom are vulnerable when we get echelons. If the race does split up, a number of sprinters will also be put into difficulty. Teams who have to protect GC riders will need everyone to help out and this could be a day where some sprinters have to sacrifice their personal ambitions for the greater good.

Finale

There will be a huge battle for position as the riders travel down the Corniche, as being near the front for the final corner is important. Once through that point, we have a wide finishing straight and there is still just enough time for a rider to be dragged back up to the front of the bunch.

Contenders

Elia Viviani – he does like a bit of wind. The Italian already has two wins to his name, and this is a big opportunity to make it three. He arrives with his trusted lead out duo: Fabio Sabatini and Michael Mørkøv. They form a very strong sprinting unit, one that is feared by most. If the wind picks up, riding for QuickStep is always a plus, I think they’ll want to test out some of the other teams.

Fernando Gaviria – just like Viviani, the Colombian has two wins to his name in 2019. He had to quit the Tour of Colombia, his home race, due to illness but assures everyone he is healthy again. This is the first time we get to see him and Alexander Kristoff working together, I would expect Kristoff to be leading out and Gaviria to sprint, but it does depend on the health of both riders. If the wind picks up, UAE have GC riders that need looking after, particularly as Dan Martin isn’t very good in an echelon. We shall see if that means Gaviria has to sacrifice his own chances, but I doubt it.

Marcel Kittel – it was great to see him winning early in Mallorca, as a confidence rider that start will have done him the world of good. He followed that up with 2nd place in Almeria, where he was just beaten by Pascal Ackermann. Getting some early wins on the board will be very important as he looks to recover from a poor 2018 and this stage will be a big target for him. The problem will be the wind, as I don’t expect Marcel to survive if we get echelons.

Caleb Ewan – the little Aussie will be eager to get his first win for Lotto under his belt. If it gets windy, he has the benefit of being the team leader, Lotto don’t have a genuine contender for the GC. The Belgians are usually good in tough conditions and they’ll expect to survive any echelon action. In terms of his lead out, it’s the same as at the Tour Down Under, with Hansen, Blythe and Kluge aiming to put him into a good spot. The pressure is on Adam Blythe to step up, I thought he was poor in the TDU and Ewan needs him to be at his best as they’re up against the best in the world.

Sam Bennett – the Irishman was left disappointed with the team deciding to take Ackermann to the Giro. The best way to reply to this is to win races and he started off well in San Juan. His lead out in this race isn’t great, but he does seem to have a good relationship with Baška. With GC riders to protect, it could be a frustrating day for Bennett, but I hope he gets to sprint. He has the speed to challenge for the win.

Alejandro Valverde – if it gets windy, you just never know. Valverde is a master of tough conditions and he’ll look to benefit from any wind. It’s still very unlikely he’ll win, but he’s worth a mention.

Prediction Time

The wind will blow, and the back door will open. Some sprinters will make the front selection and I think Elia Viviani will take the win.

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David Hunter

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