Marcel Kittel (Giant-Shimano) won the highly anticipated battle with Mark Cavendish (Omega Pharma-Quick Step on the second stage of the Dubai Tour when he took a comfortable victory in the windy sprint. Happy to have taken his first UCI win of the season, he couldn't deny that the win had even more significance because it was taken against one of his main rivals.

 

Marcel Kittel has wasted no time in winning a stage of the Dubai Tour taking victory at the first sprint opportunity on stage two. After being set up in a good position by his teammates in the finale, he kept a cool head in finding his way to the front and powering away to the line to take his second win of 2014.

 

The stage was run off as expected with a small breakaway taking most of the air-time out front before the sprinters teams started the chase behind in the second half of the stage. The race came back together in the final 10km, with the peloton having stayed together despite the efforts of some strong winds, and Team Giant-Shimano hit the front in a technical finale to keep the pace high and keep Kittel out of danger.

 

In the final, even though he was a bit isolated, Kittel didn't panic and kept his composure to take the first road stage of this new race in the cycling calendar.

 

“The team did a great job today and we can all be proud of how we worked together and pulled it off,” said Kittel after the finish. “The stage never really split up but there was some wind and also sand to deal which which made things interesting. At the end the guys dropped me off in a good position but I got swamped a bit in the final kilometre so I had to find my own way while through to the front. The legs were good though and it’s great to get the win out here in Dubai.”

 

Kittel admitted that it was a calculated move to use his teammates a bit too early.

 

"We planned to be in front out of the tunnel, because we knew the wind would be there, so it was a bit calculated that we wouldn't have enough riders in the end, so they brought me to the final 500m and I got on the wheel of Taylor Phinney," he said. "He started his sprint early, I waited there… and I'm happy I've won today.

 

"Crossing the finish line first is a very nice feeling, of course, and for me as a sprinter it's important to get the win, but I like to celebrate it as a team win in the end because everyone works for one goal, and in the end I'm the lucky guy who gets to finish it off," he added. "It's always a big relief when we finish first. I can also understand the anger of the riders who finish 2nd. I would be angry too if I wasn't first."

 

Kittel admitted that it had extra significance to beat Cavendish who got swamped at the finish and never got a chance to sprint.

 

"I'm trying to go my own way, to follow the goals that I personally have, together with the team," he said. "Then we have to see who we have to beat to achieve those goals. Here it's Cavendish, and I can't deny that this race is important because it is an opportunity to sprint against him. At 1.5k we moved up next to his team and Cavendish was still there. I didn't see what happened - I don't have eyes in the back of my head - but personally for me it's much more satisfying if you can beat a sprinter next to each other, when you fight it out and you can see them. It makes it more interesting for the spectators. It's fighting for the win that gives you a lot of excitement, and I like that.

 

"Personally I like Dubai - I've been here already as a tourist once - and it's also very important to test the lead out train to see how well it goes. We've got very good guys, and today it all worked out good so that makes me happy too."

 

Coach, Aike Visbeek was looking ahead to tomorrow's stage which is significantly hillier but he thinks that Kittel will still have a shot at the stage win.

 

"It was a nervous final out there today, quite technical and tricky to keep the team together. But the guys did a great job and didn't panic when they got a bit separated," he said. "The team are looking strong and they showed they are confident out there today. Looking ahead to tomorrow, we can take it like today as we don't have a jersey to defend. The guys have already ridden the finish so we will make a plan for that tonight and hopefully we can get Marcel up there again."