It was the moment when Team Sky's Wouter Poels hurled into that final 180-degree bend on Jebel Hafeet, a little too fast, and felt his front wheel first wobble, then go, that drove home the seriousness of the Abu Dhabi Tour.
It had been a good race until then in any case, a couple of close sprint finishes ending the first two stages.
This, on the toughest, most decisive stage of the Tour, after a gruelling 11.7-kilometre climb, elevated it.
It invested the event with the kind of drama all sport thrives on.
For Poels, a man not used to winning much, it would have been a rare triumph and likely a first general-classification (overall) victory.
For the diminutive Esteban Chaves, who took advantage of Poel’s fall and won the stage, it all but sealed his own first overall victory, rounding off an impressive year.
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– Photo Gallery: Yas Marina Circuit hosts Stage 4 of Abu Dhabi Tour as Esteban Chaves wins title
If the inaugural Abu Dhabi Tour had been seen by some to be a nice end-of-year jaunt in the sun, the fortunes of these two men shattered that cosy little idea.
The Tour, it was widely acknowledged by the end, was a worthy addition to the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) calendar.
“I think it has been a successful race, yes,” said Lorenzo Giorgetti, chief executive of RCS Sports, which was contracted by the Abu Dhabi Sports Council (ADSC) to run the race.
“I think everyone enjoyed the images of the race, both from a sporting and landscape perspective. That is what we wanted. All the riders had a very difficult challenge against the heat, against the mountain, against everything.
“This is the spirit of cycling, which is suffering till the end – 555km done, it’s been a long trip to get here and everyone is very happy.”
The heat was an issue, though an unexpected one: average temperatures at this time of the year are usually lower than they have been this year.
And it was the first stage, which began in the Rub Al Khali desert, which took a particular toll.
But thereafter, as Elia Viviani pointed out, conditions eased. Viviani won two stages, including the final at the Yas Marina Circuit with a breathtaking sprint to nudge ahead of UCI World Road Race Champion, Peter Sagan.
“I think there was a little problem in the first stage because we were in the desert and temperatures were so high,” Viviani said. “We came from Europe where weather is cold. But each day after it got better.
“Maybe we need to come one or two days before to acclimatise better. The second and third stages were better and [Sunday] was at night and it was fine.”
Giorgetti said the top cyclists are conditioned to compete in extreme conditions.
It can get hot in Europe in the summer and in some winter races, where it is snowing, he said riders pour hot tea over their hands.
Still, the race seems likely to be held a little later next year. The ADSC has talked about finding a different window for the race. Giorgetti said it could come two weeks later than it was this year, towards the end of October.
“The UCI calendar has already been issued,” he said. “Next year … it will be two weeks later, which is good. The World Championships are starting one year today. That is one week and then the following Wednesday this will start.”
When the Tour began, the ADSC discovered that they were spoilt for choice in stage venues. Some of these, such as the other famous UAE climb, Jebel Jais, could become stages next year.
“This race will be held for many years, so we will be improving all the time and there are many other places we want to show to the world,” said Talal Al Hashemi, the technical affairs director at ADSC.
The combination of climbs and sprint finishes is unlikely to change.
If another climb were added, for instance, it may actually deter sprinters from participating. And judging by the response, the spectacular Yas Marina Circuit stage is probably not going anywhere.
Sagan had been concerned about the heat before the race began. By its end, on Sunday night, he talked about how “cool” it was to race on the Formula One track, with its potential for high speeds and big, wide bends.
Ultimately, as the winner of the Tour said, cycling needs this race.
“The Abu Dhabi Tour is important because cycling is becoming more global and not only in Europe like in the past,” Chaves said.
“There are important races in the USA, Europe, Russia, and here now.
“This is really important for cycling and for us also because it’s getting bigger and bigger.”
osamiuddin@thenational.ae
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