Esteban Chaves seals Abu Dhabi Tour victory as Elia Viviani wins stage four
Elia Viviani beats Peter Sagan on the line on the Yas Marina circuit to secure his second win of the Abu Dhabi Tour
Elia Viviani (Team Sky) outsprinted Tinkoff-Saxo's world champion Peter Sagan to take the final stage of the Abu Dhabi Tour - his second of the week.
Astana's Andrea Guardini trailed in third place as Esteban Chaves (Orica-GreenEdge) sealed the overall win after his Queen stage victory on Saturday.
With riders completing 20 laps of the virtually deserted Yas Marina Formula 1 track - each lap being 5.5km - it was Chaves's race to lose and the Colombian finished in touch with rival Fabio Aru to claim the title.
Three riders, Eduard Vorganov (Katusha), Alexey Lutsenko (Astana) and Gianluca Brambilla (Etixx-Quick Step) went out in the day's breakaway, but with few obstacles separating them from the chase group their move was doomed from the start.
Orica-GreenEdge worked hard on the front for most of the stage to keep Chaves in contention, but Astana were also present - looking to set Andrea Guardini up for his second win of the week.
Will Clarke (Drapac) and Francisco Manchebo Perez (Skydive Dubai) tried their luck out the front in the penultimate lap but the marauding peloton, led by Team Wiggins, wouldn't let them get away easily, catching them shortly after the bell for the final lap.
Team Sky took up the work as the peloton entered the final kilometre, but with a wide road and sweeping corners it was tough to keep an advantage.
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
With a teammate remaining in the final 500m, Sagan looked favourite to take the win, but the world champion chose to take Viviani's wheel in the sprint and could not overcome the Italian.
It's the second time in three stages that Viviani has out-sprinted the Slovak, with the same result coming on Friday's stage two.
Abu Dhabi Tour stage four: Yas Marina Circuit (110km)
1. Elia Viviani (Ita) Team Sky, 2-22-43
2. Peter Sagan (Svk) Tinkoff-Saxo, st
3. Andrea Guardini (Ita) Astana, st
4. Daniel Oss (Ita) BMC, st
5. Marco Canola (Ita) UnitedHealthcare, st
6. Luka Mezgec (Cze) Giant-Alpecin, st
7. Andrea Palini (Ita) Skydive Dubai, st
8. Juan Jose Lobato (Esp) Movistar, st
9. Lukasz Wisniowski (Pol) Etixx-Quick Step
10. JJ Rojas (Esp) Movistar, st
Abu Dhabi Tour general classification
1. Esteban Chaves (Col) Orica-GreenEdge,
2. Fabio Aru (Ita) Astana, at 16s
3. Wout Poels (Ned) Team Sky, at 27s
4. Janez Brajkovic (Slo), at 41s
5. Diego Ulissi (Ita) Lampre-Merida, at 41s
6. Gianluca Brambilla (Ita) Etixx-Quick Step, at 1-23
7. Alejandro Valverde (Esp) Movistar, at 1-29
8. Leopold Konig (Cze) Team Sky, at 1-29
9. Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Astana, at 1-29
10. Patrick Konrad (Aut) Bora-Argon 18, at 1-40
Thank you for reading 20 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
Stuart Clarke is a News Associates trained journalist who has worked for the likes of the British Olympic Associate, British Rowing and the England and Wales Cricket Board, and of course Cycling Weekly. His work at Cycling Weekly has focused upon professional racing, following the World Tour races and its characters.
-
'We were talking about going to the Giro d'Italia': Jonas Vingegaard postpones Giro-Tour attempt - for now
The Danish two-time winner of the Tour de France is seeking to regain the yellow jersey in 2025
By Chris Marshall-Bell Published
-
Why are so many women cycling in the gym, but not outside?
Gender imbalance persists in outdoor cycling, but inside, it is a different story. Isobel Duxfield explores why
By Isobel Duxfield Published
-
Tweets of the week: Peter Sagan signs up for Strictly Come Dancing
He's quick on a bike, but how good's his rumba?
By Tom Davidson Published
-
I knew I'd never make it as a pro but a good tailwind still makes me think I had a chance
Tailwinds on rides growing up made me believe I was the next Bradley Wiggins. It's only when they went away that I realised I had a long way to go to become a Tour de France winner
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Tom Pidcock to remain 'part of the Pinarello family' after joining Q36.5 Pro Cycling
British star will continue to ride Pinarello bikes after leaving Ineos Grenadiers
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
‘There's no point to race for 50th place’: Peter Sagan explains why he’s a cycling esports ambassador but won’t compete
As a MyWhoosh ambassador, Sagan admires the sport’s evolution, but does he have the watts to compete with today’s virtual cycling stars?
By Christopher Schwenker Published
-
Ineos Grenadiers hire new head of engineering as reshuffle continues
Former British Cycling lead, Dr Billy Fitton, is the latest of a handful of new appointments within the British squad
By Tom Davidson Published
-
Overachiever: Cameron Wurf competed in the Amstel Gold, La Flèche Wallonne and an Ironman, all in just eight days
Cameron Wurf is both a member of Team Ineos Grenadiers and an accomplished professional long course triathlete who has racked up numerous World Tour and Ironman race finishes across his career.
By Kristin Jenny Published
-
‘I feel lucky to be alive’: Magnus Sheffield speaks for the first time about Gino Mäder’s fatal crash
The American describes what he saw at the Tour de Suisse, eight months after the tragedy
By Tom Davidson Published
-
Tom Pidcock: Tour of Britain route 'not really ideal for me'
Brit says he wants to win home stage race, even if the course plays in Wout van Aert's favour
By Tom Davidson Published