Dubai Tour 2016: Lobato powers to win at steep stage 3 arrival, Nizzolo new leader

The 3rd stage of the 2016 Dubai Tour is the most interesting, with a finish atop the steep Hatta Dam. It's there Lobato takes control and he powers to the win, while Nizzolo takes the leaders jersey. (Slideshow route/profile)

Results 3rd stage

1. Juan José Lobato (spa)
2. Giacomo Nizzolo (ita) + 0.02
3. Silvan Dillier (swi) + 0.04
4. Fabian Cancellara (swi) s.t.
5. Philippe Gilbert (bel) s.t.
6. Marcel Kittel (ger) s.t.
7. Gorka Izagirre (spa) + 0.07
8. Daniele Bennati (ita) s.t.
9. Davide Rebellin (ita) s.t.
10. Matteo Trentin (ita) s.t.

93. Mark Cavendish (gbr) + 5.15

GC after stage 3
1. Giacomo Nizzolo (ita)
2. Juan José Lobato (spa) + 0.02
3. Marcel Kittel (ger) + 0.06
4. Silvan Dillier (swi) + 0.12
5. Gorka Izagirre (spa) + 0.19
6. Philippe Gilbert (bel) + 0.21
7. Fabian Cancellara (swi) s.t.
8. Danielle Bennati (ita) + 0.24
9. Davide Rebellin (ita) s.t.
10. Soufiane Hadoi (mar) + 0.25

Race report
10 km’s into the race and the break of the day is off. Six riders are on the move: Feng, McCormick, Lozano, Tennant, Abelouache, Lozano Riba and Mancebo, who was in yesterday’s break also. The lead grows to 2 minutes and there it lingers.

At a climb with 12 km’s to go the break is history and Westra heads for the front of the race, while Cavendish punctures a little later. De Vreese and Swift join Westra, but this new break is brought back with 5 km’s left. Cav can forget about his overall ambitions as he is 2 minutes down in no time.

At the steep 17% arrival Juan José Lobato is in a class of his own. The only rider who keeps up (sort of) is Nizzolo and because this is the third time he takes a time bonus, the Italian will start in the leaders jersey tomorrow. Former leader Viviani was dropped early on the closing climb.

Marcel Kittel performs well at the Hatta Dam and finishes sixth, meaning stage 4‘s bunch sprint will be nothing short of a spectacle with the German being 6 seconds down on Nizzolo and 4 seconds down on Lobato.

At the finish line time bonuses of 10, 6 and 4 seconds lay waiting.