DUBAI // Mark Cavendish relinquished the leader’s blue jersey on Friday, but he remains in the fight to win the Dubai Tour today after a strong performance amid the jagged mountains of Hatta.
Going into the final stage of the four-day 660-kilometre tour, the Etixx Quick-Step rider is second in the overall standings. He trails Team Giant-Alpecin’s John Degenkolb by four seconds after the German won Friday’s third stage and collected a 10-second bonus.
Cavendish won Wednesday’s first stage and finished narrowly behind Elia Viviani on Thursday to arrive at the tour’s most challenging stage in the lead.
Although the 29-year-old former world champion had played down his chances ahead of yesterday’s 205km route that finished with a steep 150-metre climb, he remained at the front of the peloton until late in the race, before slipping back to finish 10 seconds behind the leader.
“It was a great ride by my team,” Cavendish said. “They have been incredible. We have been at the front for three days and everyone was finding it hard with the crosswinds. We’d like to get at least another stage through the overall.”
Cavendish revealed his Etixx team rode the stage before the tour began and decided that, with a win unlikely, the most important thing was to remain in contention going into the final day.
Saturday’s 123km stage is flatter and more likely to suit Cavendish, who has won the Tour de France’s final Champs-Elysees stage a record four times in a row and is regarded as one of cycling’s best sprinters.
“We knew there would be distance on the climb, but the team stayed with me, we rode a good tempo and we knew we could get back,” he said.
“We recced this stage a couple of days ago, so knew it and it was just about positioning for the final stage. There was no point going for the win, so I tried to save my energy.”
gmeenaghan@thenational.ae
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