Dubai Tour 2017: Kittel takes 1st stage and leaders jersey

After 181 kilometres on flat roads through the desert Marcel Kittel powers to victory in Palm Jumeirah. Groenewegen finishes in second, Cavendish in third. (Slideshow route/profile)

Results 1st stage Dubai Tour 2017

1. Marcel Kittel (ger)
2. Dylan Groenewegen (nld) s.t.
3. Mark Cavendish (gbr) s.t.
4. John Degenkolb (ger) s.t.
5. Sacha Modolo (ita) s.t.
6. Elia Viviani (ita) s.t.
7. Jean-Pierre Drucker (lux) s.t.
8. Simoni Consoni (ita) s.t.
9. Steele von Hoff (aus) s.t.
10. Adam Blythe (gbr) s.t.

GC after 1st stage
1. Marcel Kittel (ger)
2. Nicola Boem (ita) + 0.03
3. Dylan Groenewegen (nld) + 0.04
4. Thomas Stewart (gbr) + s.t.
5. Mark Cavendish (gbr) + 0.06
6. Silvan Dillier (swi) s.t.
7. John Degenkolb (ger) s.t.
8. Sacha Modolo (ita) s.t.
9. Elia Viviani (ita) s.t.
10. Jean-Pierre Drucker (lux) s.t.

Race report
Shortly after the flag is dropped Dan Pearson, Nicola Boem, Silvan Dillier, Tom Stewart and Matteo Bono break clear. They race to a maximum lead of almost five minutes.

At kilometre 71 and kilometre 105 Boem takes the first two intermediate sprints, while Dillier powers to the win in the third intermediate.

With 40 kms remaining the leaders are almost reeled in, yet the peloton gives them some spare time. Boem quits his efforts and is caught by the pack. The other riders are reeled in with 10 kms left to race.

After a strong team effort by QuickStep Marcel Kittel powers to his first win in the 2017 season, finishing a bike length ahead of Dylan Groenewegen.