Luka Mezgec has got his 2015 season underway with a sixth place in the frantic bunch sprint on the opening stage of the Dubai Tour. Team Giant-Alpecin hit the front in the final five kilometres but a few mishaps saw them lose formation before having to fight their way back to the front.

A flat tyre for road captain Roy Curvers with four kilometres to race put him out of action for the stage finish and then a rider in Chad Haga’s rear wheel also meant that he had to drop back at a vital moment. This saw the team lose each other but a big pull from Zico Waeytens, starting his first race for the team, brought them back to the front from which point Mezgec was able to sprint for a top ten finish.

The opening stage’s profile always looked as if it would favour a bunch sprint and that it did. With just five riders moving clear during the stage their chances of staying clear were slim ahead of a sprint-hungry peloton behind. The Team Giant-Alpecin riders were staying calm and waiting for later in the race to make an impact, looking out for Mezgec and John Degenkolb under the guidance of Roy as captain.

With the bunch all back together a fast final 20km were on the cards. The riders were well positioned near the front out the bunch to stay out of trouble and alert to any splits that may occur but a complete bunch came into the finish together. In the final five kilometres the team hit the front but it wasn’t to be their day and Mezgec did what he could at the end to fight for the places available.

Luka gave his thoughts on the race, saying: “The feelings in the legs were OK today but in the final we can do better. It’s a continuous learning process though and this is a good race to get back the feelings for the sprints.

“I decided to stay with John in the final so as to get the feel for the train. Results are important but for a first few race back you need to find the rhythm again. Tomorrow we will have another chance.”

He added: “It is such a nice race here and great to get going in these conditions.”

After the stage, team coach Aike Visbeek commented: “The goal was to go for Luka today and coming into the final 10km things were looking good. When Roy punctured four kilometres out and Chad had to drop back after a rider hit his back wheel we lost two key riders for the finish. The guys lost each other a bit but did well to regroup and come back to the front but it was slightly too late and we were playing catch up right to the finish. We will try again tomorrow.

“It was a good stage for the riders to get their legs back into race mode after a past month of specific training on the roads and in the gym with the coaches and trainers to get prepared for the start of the season.”

Tomorrow’s second stage is a similarly flat one, taking the riders from Dubai to the finish in Palm Jumeirah Atlantis 187km later.