Andrea Palini gave Skydive Dubai the perfect start to Africa’s biggest bike race as he turned out to be the fastest in the bunch sprint on stage 1. The Italian beat Yauheni Hutarovich (Fortuneo-Vital Concept) and Adrien Petit (Direct Energie) into the minor podium positions.
We have gathered a few reactions.
Palini: Last year's work paid off
"It was not easy. It was very hard to control the breakaways. I knew the road and I found my legs in the finale. In 2015, I was here to do a recon of the final kilometres. It served me again today."
Petit: I did the lead-out for the winner
"I finished 3rd and Yoyo [Yohann Gene] 4th, so it's still a good start, especially for a first stage marked by heat (34 degrees at the finish, ed.). We have a great team with a great atmosphere and we already know each other well.
"It was a rather special final: 2 kilometers from the finish, there was a right turn that led us onto a small road which had a nice steep climb of about 700 meters and then a descent which led us to 300 meters from the finish line. You had to be careful because there was a dangerous passage with lots of gravel. Add to that the dust that came from the vehicles.
"I ended up with Yoyo 400 meters from the line, and he immediately launched the sprint. Unfortunately I did the lead-out for the first two who were going very fast.
" am not disappointed. I am with a new team. That said, in the coming days, we will have to remain vigilant, the race may still be very nervous."
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