Cycling: Abu Dhabi: Kristoff wins, Cavendish falls, Germans without chance

Vice World Champion Alexander Kristoff from Norway has won the opening leg of the Abu Dhabi Tour, which was overshadowed by a fall of Mark Cavendish from England. After 189 km around Madinat Zayed, the two German top sprinters Marcel Kittel and Andre Greipel went empty-handed. Kristoff had the greatest power reserves in the mass sprint in headwind.

Cavendish had already fallen in the neutralized race phase before the sharp start. The fall is said to have been triggered by a sudden braking manoeuvre of the race director’s car.

According to his team Dimension Data, 32 year old Cavendish suffered a concussion and whiplash trauma. His right shoulder, which he had broken during the Tour de France in 2017, apparently remained intact.

Greipel (Lotto-Soudal) and Kittel (Katusha-Alpecin) were in a bad position in the final. Greipel came tenth as the best placed German professional cyclist, Kittel finished 15th.

The next chance for a stage win is on Thursday on the second leg through Abu Dhabi between Yas Mal and Yas Beach (154 km). The tour ends on Sunday.