DUBAI // The first of what could be a series of sprint battles between Marcel Kittel and Mark Cavendish ended in a no-contest result on Thursday as the German easily trumped his rival on Stage 2 of the Dubai Tour.
The opening salvo of a richly anticipated confrontation concluded with the Giant-Shimano rider crossing the finish line in 2 hours, 50 minutes, 30 seconds.
Cavendish, by contrast, was left well back in the peloton in 30th. Even Kittel acknowledged the finish was an anticlimax.
“Personally, for me it is much more satisfying if you can beat a sprinter when you are next to each other,” Kittel said.
“It makes it more interesting for the spectator, of course, and fighting for the win gives you a lot of excitement.”
As if the four stage wins at last year’s Tour de France were not enough, this was further evidence that Cavendish has a genuine rival to his status as the fastest man on two wheels.
Ahead of the tour, the British rider responded frostily when quizzed about the growing eminence of the 25 year old from Arnstadt, yet he took defeat here magnanimously.
“Congratulations to Marcel Kittel yet again – another win for that dude,” Cavendish wrote on his Twitter account.
He said the stage “didn’t go as planned” and reasoned that he “didn’t contest the sprint after finding myself a long way back with 500 metres to go”.
Kittel, too, suggested their rivalry was no more hostile than should be expected.
“I’m not going out for dinner with Mark, but I think we have a normal relationship,” he said.
“Of course in the sprints we are competitors, but off the bike it is not a problem, we can chat to each other.
“First of all, I am trying to go my own way, together with the team, but then we have to see who we have to beat to achieve those goals.
“On the Dubai Tour it is Mark Cavendish. In the next race it could be someone else.”
Taylor Phinney, the winner of Wednesday’s time trial, retained the leader’s blue jersey ahead of Friday’s Dubai to Hatta leg after finishing third in Stage 2.
The American was glad the riders managed to avoid the anticipated “carnage” they feared might be caused by strong crosswinds at the end of the tunnel on the Palm.
“I’m happy I was able to keep the jersey,” Phinney said.
“The boys on my team basically controlled the race all the way through, so I wanted to pay them back with a good finish.
“I’m quite happy with third, although you always want to win a stage.”
sports@thenational.ae
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The burning issue
The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.
Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on
Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins
Read part one: how cars came to the UAE
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
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Specs
Price, base: Dhs850,000
Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
Power: 591bhp @ 7,500rpm
Torque: 760Nm @ 3,000rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 11.3L / 100km
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-finals, first leg
Liverpool v Roma
When: April 24, 10.45pm kick-off (UAE)
Where: Anfield, Liverpool
Live: BeIN Sports HD
Second leg: May 2, Stadio Olimpico, Rome
Abu Dhabi World Pro 2019 remaining schedule:
Wednesday April 24: Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Championship, 11am-6pm
Thursday April 25: Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Championship, 11am-5pm
Friday April 26: Finals, 3-6pm
Saturday April 27: Awards ceremony, 4pm and 8pm
Herc's Adventures
Developer: Big Ape Productions
Publisher: LucasArts
Console: PlayStation 1 & 5, Sega Saturn
Rating: 4/5
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
WOMAN AND CHILD
Director: Saeed Roustaee
Starring: Parinaz Izadyar, Payman Maadi
Rating: 4/5
Scorebox
Dubai Sports City Eagles 7 Bahrain 88
Eagles
Try: Penalty
Bahrain
Tries: Gibson 2, Morete 2, Bishop 2, Bell 2, Behan, Fameitau, Sanson, Roberts, Bennett, Radley
Cons: Radley 4, Whittingham 5
Chef Nobu's advice for eating sushi
“One mistake people always make is adding extra wasabi. There is no need for this, because it should already be there between the rice and the fish.
“When eating nigiri, you must dip the fish – not the rice – in soy sauce, otherwise the rice will collapse. Also, don’t use too much soy sauce or it will make you thirsty. For sushi rolls, dip a little of the rice-covered roll lightly in soy sauce and eat in one bite.
“Chopsticks are acceptable, but really, I recommend using your fingers for sushi. Do use chopsticks for sashimi, though.
“The ginger should be eaten separately as a palette cleanser and used to clear the mouth when switching between different pieces of fish.”
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Test
Director: S Sashikanth
Cast: Nayanthara, Siddharth, Meera Jasmine, R Madhavan
Star rating: 2/5
ESSENTIALS
The flights
Emirates flies from Dubai to Phnom Penh via Yangon from Dh2,700 return including taxes. Cambodia Bayon Airlines and Cambodia Angkor Air offer return flights from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap from Dh250 return including taxes. The flight takes about 45 minutes.
The hotels
Rooms at the Raffles Le Royal in Phnom Penh cost from $225 (Dh826) per night including taxes. Rooms at the Grand Hotel d'Angkor cost from $261 (Dh960) per night including taxes.
The tours
A cyclo architecture tour of Phnom Penh costs from $20 (Dh75) per person for about three hours, with Khmer Architecture Tours. Tailor-made tours of all of Cambodia, or sites like Angkor alone, can be arranged by About Asia Travel. Emirates Holidays also offers packages.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
ONCE UPON A TIME IN GAZA
Starring: Nader Abd Alhay, Majd Eid, Ramzi Maqdisi
Directors: Tarzan and Arab Nasser
Rating: 4.5/5
