Marcel Kittel described his successful Dubai Tour title defence as “really really cool” after concluding an “eventful” five days in the Emirates with a stage win and a general classification triumph.
The German sprint machine took his record total of Dubai Tour stage wins to eight on Saturday – three this year – as he outpaced omnium Olympic champion Elia Viviani of Team Sky, Astana’s Riccardo Minali, 30-time Tour de France stage winner Mark Cavendish of Team Dimension Data and stage three winner John Degenkolb of Trek-Segafredo, to cross the finish line first in front of a vibrant crowd at City Walk.
Kittel did not just win a second consecutive Dubai Tour crown, he also hit a milestone of 75 pro career victories to cement his place as one of the most talented sprinters of his generation.
“I think it’s something special because there aren’t many opportunities when I have the chance to go for the general classification,” an elated Kittel told reporters.
“I could add one more title now, that’s really really cool, I’m really proud, because it shows consistency over a few days, not only from myself but also from the team. That’s a strength that you have to build-up during the winter. There’s a team spirit that we have which makes this possible and I’m very happy to enjoy that with the general classification.”
The Quick-Step Floors rider admits he feels “different” and “stronger” compared to 12 months ago when he was making his debut with the Belgian outfit and is happy to kick-off his 2017 campaign with some strong showings against some of his greatest sprint rivals.
The 28-year-old came to Dubai last year coming off a testing 2015 that saw him miss several races, including the Tour de France and the World Championships, due to illness. Two stage wins along with the general and points classification jerseys made way for a successful 2016 and he now feels fit and ready to go for more this season.
“I think I’m starting this season different now compared to one year ago. One year ago I came from a difficult year in 2015, I missed a lot of race kilometres and training kilometres due to illness and now I have a complete season, 2016, in my legs,” explained Kittel, who returns to the UAE in less than three weeks for the Abu Dhabi Tour.
“It wasn’t easy, also coming into a new team, you’re always a little bit insecure, but I can honestly say I had great support and I’m happy how I was able to start my season last year, with confidence and also the experience from 2016, I’m starting now in 2017. I feel different and also stronger.”
His strength was evident as he powered across the finish line on Saturday, following 124km of racing around the streets of Dubai.
Breakaway riders Dmitriy Gruzdev (Astana), Floris Gerts, Ivan Garcia (Bahrain-Merida) and Matteo Bono (UAE Abu Dhabi) were clear of the peloton 45km into the stage and battled it out for the intermediate sprints. The quartet were caught 9km from the finish as the riders headed for a bunch sprint.
Cavendish had a perfect lead-out courtesy of his Dimension Data team-mates but the Manxman, winner of the 2015 Dubai Tour, suffered a gear problem that dented his chances and gave way for Kittel to go for the win.
It was yet another strike of bad luck for Cavendish who had suffered a puncture on opening day and leaves Dubai with no stage victories.
.@marcelkittel reacts after winning the 2017 edition of the @dubaitour #DubaiTour pic.twitter.com/RnnJpqFBlQ
— Sport360° (@Sport360) February 4, 2017
“We didn’t get any wins, but I think after working throughout the week as a team we were incredible, that was exactly what we wanted to execute today, except for obviously the win,” said Cavendish, 31.
“I am disappointed. My gears wouldn’t stay in the 11, going up to the 12. Thought I had it perfect, but when I went to kick, one time it flipped my back wheel upward, I don’t know what that was.”
Cavendish had said before the start of the Dubai Tour that he was not in the best of shape having started his preseason training later than usual.
“I’m better than I thought I was, so that’s alright,” he said yesterday after the finish.
Dutch national road race champion Groenewegen and Germany’s Degenkolb rounded off the GC podium with the former also clinching the young rider’s classification white jersey.
“It was a really nice week, two times second and a general classification second, best young rider, so I think we did a good job,” Groenewegen told Sport360. I think it was too strong, maybe later in the season we can beat them, but for now they were too strong.”
Degenkolb described his time in Dubai as a “positive week” but was not particularly pleased with how he fared in the final sprint.
“We lost each other already like 3km to go. I managed to get in a good position for the sprint actually, I was on Marcel’s wheel then there was suddenly a gap between the guys from Dimension Data, then there was kind of a traffic jam. I couldn’t really start the sprint. Marcel picked the right moment to go out and did a long sprint, he was the strongest by far anyway, but I think I could have done better than fifth.”
