Abu Dhabi Tour 2018: Viviani sprints to victory and overall lead

The 2nd stage of the Abu Dhabi Tour should be a treat for fast finishers. Despite crosswinds in the last hour of racing the race does indeed come down to a bunch sprint. Elia Viviani outpowers Danny van Poppel and Pascal Ackermann to take the leader's jersey. (Slideshow route/profile)

Results 2nd stage 2018 Abu Dhabi Tour

1. Elia Viviani (ita)
2. Danny van Poppel (nld) s.t.
3. Pascal Ackermann (ger) s.t.
4. Kristoffer Halvorsen (nor) s.t.
5. Caleb Ewan (aus) s.t.
6. Phil Bauhaus (ger) s.t.
7. Alexander Kristoff (nor) s.t.
8. Niccolo Bonifazzio (ita) s.t.
9. Rudy Barbier (fra) s.t.
10. Mark Renshaw (aus) s.t.

GC after 2nd stage
1. Elia Viviani (ita)
2. Alexander Kristoff (nor) s.t.
3. Danny van Poppel (nld) + 0.04
4. Andrea Guardini (ita) + 0.04
5. Caleb Ewan (aus) + 0.06
6. Pascal Ackermann (ger) s.t.
7. Alejandro Valverde (spa) + 0.07
8. Tom Skujins (lat) s.t.
9. Alessandro Tonelli (ita) s.t.
10. Mark Renshaw (aus) + 0.08

Race report
Shortly after the start five riders open up a gap. Charles Planet, Alexander Porsev, Jaco Venter, Alessandro Tonelli and Joey Rosskopf race to a lead of 4 minutes before the peloton takes them on a leash.

Crosswinds inspire the peloton to accelerate with 50 kms to go. It's full gas racing in the desert and the leaders are caught on no time. Overall leader Alexander Kristoff, Elia Viviani and Tom Dumoulin end up on the wrong side of a split in the peloton. The first echelon puts half a minute into their group, but they rejoin the main group with 16 kms remaining.

Meanwhile, Alejandro Valverde has seized the opportunity to win 3 bonus seconds in the second intermediate sprint of the day.

The race comes down to a bunch sprint on Yas Island. 24-Year old German Pascal Ackermann opens the sprint, but it's too early and both Elia Viviani and Danny van Poppel come flying past. The Italian powers to glory and the GC-lead, as former leader Alexander Kristoff finishes in seventh place.