Mark Cavendish comes barreling over the finish line, clenches a fist and looks like that same maestro we’ve seen light up many Tour de France stages over the years.
France may be a far cry from the streets of Fujairah – but the Dimenson Data rider looked in emphatic from as he cruised to victory on Stage 3 of the Dubai Tour – claiming a first UCI stage win since February 2017.
A bout of glandular fever and a dislocated shoulder may have curtailed his usual sparkling form for large parts of last season, but the 32-year-old looked back his best on Thursday.
“I’m very happy. We had a plan to be in the front few at the roundabout with 3km to go. I was lucky that Nacer (Bouhanni, Team Cofidis) let me in with a few hundred metres to go on the attack,” said Cavendish.
“I realised I can’t match Elia (Viviani, Quick-Step Floors) in a track sprint so I had to leave it late and wait until he passed his initial peak and he was settled into his sprint. I used my jump to pass him. It’s a gamble but it paid off.
“Any time of year, it’s important to win. Already with this win, I’ve won the same amount of races I won in the whole of last season.”
Cavendish looked utterly dominant – and Thursday’s stage win means he trails new leader Viviani by four seconds as the riders gear up for the 172km hilly stage from Dubai to Hatta Dam on Friday.
Although he was elated to win in the port of Fujariah, the Manx Missile voiced his disappointed about Wednesday’s finish in Ras Al Khaimah where he eased off towards the end and finished fourth.
If the Briton had pushed in those final metres and gained an extra position or two then he would have been wearing the leaders jersey in Fujairah.
“I was just disappointed that I sat up with the sprint yesterday. I was angry with himself. I let myself and my team down,” he said.
“Technically I could be in the jersey if I didn’t sit up yesterday. I wouldn’t have won but I could have come second and got the time bonuses.”
His building form certainly represents a significant boost though as Cavendish embarks on a month-long schedule in the Middle East.
After Saturday’s finish in Citywalk, the team will depart for the Tour of Oman before returning to the Emirates for the Abu Dhabi Tour on February 21.
He said. “Any win for any sprinter adds confidence. I’m normally near my form in July but I’m happy with my form for February.
“I had a strong winter and I wanted to come in early season and continue to hit the ground running here.”
