VIVIANI OUTSPRINTS SAGAN IN STAGE 2 THE CAPITAL STAGE OF THE ABU DHABI TOUR

• RED JERSEY, sponsored by ADNOC (General Classification by time) – Elia Viviani (Team Sky)
• GREEN JERSEY, sponsored by ABU DHABI SPORTS COUNCIL (General Classification by points) – Elia Viviani (Team Sky)
• WHITE JERSEY, sponsored by THE NATIONAL (Best Young Rider, born after 1 January 1990) – Peter Sagan (Tinkoff Saxo)
• BLACK JERSEY, sponsored by ETIHAD AIRWAYS (Intermediate Sprint Jersey Classification) – Alessandro Bazzana (UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling)

TOMORROW'S STAGE TIMINGS
Stage 3 – The Al Ain Stage - Al Ain (Al Qattara Souq) - Jebel Hafeet, 142km
Start Meeting Point: Yas Marina Circuit 
Sign-On Procedures: 11.30pm-12.50pm
Roll out (transfer 4,000m) 12.55pm
km 0: Approx. 1.00pm
Intermediate Sprints: km 79.1 - Hamdan Bin Mohammad St. and km 128.8 - Green Mubazzarah
Finish: Jebel Hafeet - approx. 5.00pm
Race Headquarters: Mercure Grand Jebel Hafeet Al Ain Hotel, UAE

ROUTE
The toughest stage of the inaugural Abu Dhabi Tour. Starting from Al Qattara Souq, after the first 33km, which follow broad, straight roads, the peloton traces a wide circle around the city, before crossing the Green Mubazzarah oasis to the start of the final climb. 11km long, the Jebel Hafeet reaches 1,000m on gradients that average 7.5% and touch 12% on the lower slopes. The ulysse nardin replica watches climb, on a broad and well-surfaced road with some long, open bends, eases into a short descent with 1.5km to go, before a shallow climb which leads to the finish line. The final climb will, in all probability, decide the General Classification.

Press Conference declarations by stage winner and new race leader, Elia Viviani (Team Sky):

Q: You won a stage in Dubai, and now here. It seems the UAE is good for you!
A: It's a lucky place for me! Those two races are at different moments of the season. I was lucky to be able to do Dubai just before the Track World Championships, and Abu Dhabi just after the Road World Championships, so I came into both races with good form. We were disappointed yesterday because I was in a bad position, and it was hard to work at the front to catch the breakaway with only six riders. But today we did a really good job.

Q: Just before the final sprint, Peter Sagan was in second position, and you were in fourth position. Did you choose to be in fourth position?
A: I made my first effort with 1.5 km to go because I was right at the back. I made directly for Sagan's wheel, but of course I was not the only one: Palini and Mezgec were close by. I didn't want to take any risks on the final corner. They were prepared to do so. I decided to wait a second and see if I had the legs after the corner. Sagan was obviously the best bet for today's sprint, and only [his team-mate] Bennati and one Etixx rider were ahead of him. After the corner, I went for Peter's wheel. When he started his sprint, I waited a second, but no more, because he is so strong, and I managed to pass him in the final 20 metres.

Q: What are the chances of keeping the jersey tomorrow?
A: Look, we are happy to have the jersey, but tomorrow's stage is obviously too hard for me. We have Wout Poels and Leopold Konig in the team, and we will be working for them. Tomorrow is going to be a work day for me but, after tomorrow, I will look ahead to Sunday.

Q: Do you think that you have progressed this year as a sprinter?
A: Yes, this year with Team Sky has been really good for me. We selected our goals, prepared for them in the best way, and as a result I have improved as a sprinter, to the extent that now I am really competitive with the big sprinters in the world. In the last few years, I have stepped up each year. This year, with a new team, new motivation, and strong riders around me, I have taken really good steps forward. Now I need to step up in the classics. There are not many classics that suit me, but Milano Sanremo is one, Gent Wevelgem is another, and, in the last part of the season, the Vattenfall Classic in Hamburg and Plouay. After the first part of next season on the road, I will focus on riding the Olympic track program, and then we have World Championships that are completely flat. But first I want to finish this season well on Sunday's stage.

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PHOTO CREDIT: ANSA / CARCONI - PERI
VIDEO CREDIT: ANSA / MENTUCCIA

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