Dubai Tour (st. 2)
Movistar Team sprinter boxed in into Palm Jumeirah's finish after late work by team-mates. Viviani (SKY) wins, Cavendish (EQS) retains blue jersey
Frustration was drawn up again on Juanjo Lobato's gesture through the finish line of Palm Jumeirah Atlantis, end of the second stage in the 2015 Dubai Tour (185km). The Trebujena-based rider was supported in two key moments by his Movistar team-mates before the sprint. With 4km remaining, Malori's pulling brought him back into position; and 1.5k from the line, four of the Blues got into the wheel of the Sky train to claim an unbeatable place for the Andalusian.
However, with 300m to go and Lobato into the first ten places, two sudden movements caused by the release of the leadout riders took all energy left on Lobato for the sprint, unable to contest Viviani's (SKY) victory. The most interesting chance for Juanjo, and even for Alejandro Valverde, is still to come though: the finish atop the Dam Hatta on stage three Friday (205km) include a steep final ramp, almost 200m at 14%, preceeded by two slopes less than 15km from the end, where pure sprinters should theoretically struggle against the group directed by José Luis Jaimerena.