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.
Read also: route 2nd stage 2018 Abu Dhabi Tour.
Abu Dhabi Tour 2018 stage 2: Route maps, height profiles, and more
Click on the images to zoom
Elia Viviani
Watch the highlights of recent races here:
Related articles Favourites - Abu Dhabi Tour 20 Overview - Abu Dhabi Tour 20 Winners and records - Abu Dhabi Tour Valverde takes mountain stage and GC victory - Abu Dhabi Tour 20 Rohan Dennis wins time trial and takes overall lead - Abu Dhabi Tour 20 Bauhaus bests Kittel in millimetres sprint, Viviani still in lead - Abu Dhabi Tour 20 Kristoff wins 1st stage and takes lead - Abu Dhabi Tour 20 Route stage 1: Madinat Zayed – Madinat Zayed - Abu Dhabi Tour 20 Route stage 3: Abu Dhabi - Abu Dhabi - Abu Dhabi Tour 20 Route stage 4: ITT Al Maryah - Abu Dhabi Tour 20 Route stage 5: Al Ain - Jebel Hafeet - Abu Dhabi Tour 20 More articles Tour de Romandie 2024: McNulty wins ITT, Ayuso new leader
Tour de Romandie 2024 Route stage 4: Saillon - Leysin
Tour de Romandie 2024 Route stage 3: Oron ITT
Tour de Romandie 2024: Riders
Tour de Romandie 2024 Route stage 5: Vernier - Vernier
Giro 2024: The Route
Giro 2024: Riders
Giro 2024 Route stage 1: Turin - Turin
Giro 2024 Favourites stage 1: Hilly race for pink
Giro 2024 Route stage 2: San Fransesco al Campo - Oropa
Giro 2024 Favourites stage 2: The King of Oropa
Giro 2024 Route stage 3: Novara - Fossano
Giro 2024 Favourites stage 3: For fast finishers #1
Giro 2024 Route stage 4: Acqui Terme - Andora
Giro 2024 Favourites stage 4: Mini Milan-Sanremo
Giro 2024 Route stage 5: Genoa - Lucca
Giro 2024 Favourites stage 5: For fast finishers #2
Giro 2024 Route stage 6: Viareggio - Rapolano Terme
Giro 2024 Route stage 8: Spoleto - Prati di Tivo
Giro 2024 Route stage 15: Manerba del Garda - Livigno
Giro 2024 Route stage 16: Livigno - Monte Pana
Giro 2024 Route stage 17: Selva di Val Gardena – Passo Brocon
Giro 2024 Route stage 19: Mortegliano - Sappada
Giro 2024 Route stage 20: Alpago – Bassano del Grappa
Cycling Calendar 2024
Liège–Bastogne–Liège Femmes 2024: Brown wins six-up sprint
Tour de France 2024: The Route
Tour de France 2024: Riders
Tour de France 2024 Route stage 1: Florence - Rimini
Vuelta 2024: The Route
Like our Facebook page and stay on top of all pro-race information!