In the second stage of the Tour Dubai, with breathtaking finish on Palm Jumeirah, the South African athlete of Fantini Vini – NIPPO – De Rosa Team has become protagonist with an over 100km brakeaway and winning the two intermediate sprints of the day equating Taylor Phinney in the special Intermediate Sprints Ranking.
Palm Jumeirah, DUBAI – Marcell Kittel (Giant-Shimano) has imposed its own "sprint law" on Peter Sagan (Cannondale) and Taylor Phinney (BMC Racing Team) in the 2nd Stage of Dubai Tour.
During the stage, which started from Dubai World Trade Center and has been articulated for 122km between the vertiginous skyscrapers of the pearl of the United Arab Emirates, on the shields also the colors of Vini Fantini – NIPPO – De Rosa Team thanks to the tenacious action of Willie Smit. The South African athlete of the Team of the "Blue Mountain", born in 1992, has become the protagonist along with Diogo Nunes (Banco Bic – Carmin) and Francicsco Mancebo (Skydive Dubai Team) of an over 100km brakeaway, which ended when the "Big Team" were forced to close on the riders in the front of the race to put their sprinters in the best conditions to play the announced final sprint.
Willie Smit was protagonist of a tenacious action enriched by the conquest of the two intermediate sprints of the day (respectively placed after 42km and 58km of race) that allowed the young South African rider to equal the 8 points of Taylor Phinney in the special Intermediate Sprints ranking:Phinney remains the holder of the ranking but on tomorrow stage thanks to leadership of BMC rider on General Rankng, the leader jersey will be worn by Smit.
In the day of the imperial sprint of Marcel Kittel there was glory also for the colors of Vini Fantini – NIPPO – De Rosa Team that tomorrow, in the 3rd Stage with finish in the desert areas of Hatta, will try to honor the "total black style" jersey on the shoulders of Willie Smit, to be again protagonists in"the most powerful race in the most powerful place".