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ANDREA GUARDINI (ASTANA PRO TEAM) WINS STAGE 1, THE ADNOC STAGE, OF ABU DHABI TOUR AND TAKES RED JERSEY

Madinat Zayed, 8 October 2015 – At the end of today's slightly shortened stage, the Italian rider Andrea Guardini (Astana Pro Team) won Stage 1 - the ADNOC Stage - of the first Abu Dhabi Tour, Qasr Al Sarab - Madinat Zayed (159.5km), and took the lead in the overall General Classification. On the podium he was rewarded with the first race leader's Red Jersey, also sponsored by ADNOC, and also the Green Jersey, sponsored by Abu Dhabi Sports Council, of the points leader.


STAGE RESULT
1 - Andrea Guardini (Astana Pro Team) 159.5 km in 4h21’11”, average speed 36.640 km/h
2 - Tom Boonen (Etixx - Quick Step) s.t.
3 - Daniele Bennati (Tinkoff Saxo) s.t.

JERSEYS
  • RED JERSEY, sponsored by ADNOC (General Classification by time) – Andrea Guardini (Astana Pro Team)
  • GREEN JERSEY, sponsored by ABU DHABI SPORTS COUNCIL (General Classification by points) – Andrea Guardini (Astana Pro Team)
  • WHITE JERSEY, sponsored by THE NATIONAL (Best Young Rider, born after 1 January 1990) – Songezo Jim (MTN - Qhubeka)
  • BLACK JERSEY, sponsored by ETIHAD AIRWAYS (Intermediate Sprint Jersey Classification) – Paul Voss (Bora - Argon 18)

Speaking seconds after the stage finish, the winner made the following declarations: "Other riders suffer in the heat, but I like these conditions and I knew that I could do a really good job today. The first hour was really slow because of the strong headwind. Coming into the final kilometre, there was confusion in the peloton. The last curve was at 500m, and I went around it in third position. I knew that I was too near the front, so I held back. Luckily I was close to Bennati. When Peter [Sagan] kicked, he pulled Bennati with him at around the 250m mark. Peter sportingly left the corridor along the barriers open, and I came through."

Press conference interviews and further details to follow.

#RideToAbuDhabi
The Abu Dhabi Tour, organised by the Abu Dhabi Sports Council in collaboration with RCS Sport (8-11 October) consists of four stages covering a total of 555km; three stages suit the sprinters, while the remaining stage finishes uphill after a 10.8km climb with gradients touching 12%. the General Classification is expected to be decided on the climb.
#UCICyclingGala
On the evening of the last stage, the Tour will have the honour of hosting the very first UCI Cycling Gala awards ceremony. This unique event will celebrate the end of the UCI professional road cycling season with its stakeholders in Abu Dhabi.

PHOTO CREDIT: ANSA / CARCONI - PERI

Links: Abu Dhabi Tour downloads site for all content

SHIFT Active Media
Manolo Bertocchi

 
RCS Sport Cycling Press Office
Ph.: (+44) 1225 448333
Ph. (+44) 7979 241227
E-mail: manolo@shiftactivemedia.com
Tw.: @Shiftactive @ItalianManolo

RCS Sport
Stefano Diciatteo

 
RCS Sport Press Office Coordinator
Ph.: (+39) 02 25848758
Mob.: (+39) 335 5468466
E-mail: Stefano.diciatteo@rcs.it
Tw.: @rcssport - @stedicia

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