cycling: Cycling: Marcel Kittel wins the first stage of the Dubai Tour

Cycling: Well then! A few seconds ago, Marcel Kittel won the first stage of the Dubai Tour and thus took the overall lead. In the sprint, the 27-year-old beat Mark Cavendish (Dimension Data) and Giacomo Nizzolo (Trek-Segafredo).

What a comeback for Marcel Kittel. The German, who was plagued by injuries, illnesses and poor form last season, showed the qualities that once made him the strongest sprinter in the world today in the first stage of the Dubai Tour. Most of the time he wasn't to be seen, only to explode in the final and give his competitors, above all Brit Mark Cavendish, no chance.

Immediately after crossing the finish line, the beaming winner said: "After the tough last season, I'm overjoyed that it worked out today. I'm also happy that things worked so well with the new team. We talked a lot before the race, but you never know if it will work out as well when it matters. We did a really good job, the timing was perfect. This year is a complete fresh start for me and I feel really great.”

One happy man, one happy team! #WayToRide pic.twitter.com/QCya0Hx0Fq

— Etixx – Quick Step (@Etixx_QuickStep) February 3rd 2016

179km from Dubai to Fjairah were to be tackled today, mostly flat with a small climb in the last third. After some back and forth, six riders got together after about 50km and rode at the front most of the time. Martin Mortensen (One), Charles Planet (Novo Nordisk), Marc Soler (Movistar), Soufiane Haddi (Skydive Dubai), Jesus Alberto Rubio (Al Nasr Pro Cycling) and Loic Vliegen (BMC) made up the day's breakaway. In the field it was mainly Etixx - Quick-Step, Dimension Data and Team Sky who controlled the pace and wanted to put their sprinters - Kittel, Cavendish and Viviani - in a promising position.

Just under 10 km before the finish line, the last breakaway happened and the battle for positions began. From a German point of view, it was gratifying to see that the teamwork at Etixx - Quick-Step with Marcel Kittel as the new sprinter was already working very well.

Marcel Kittel finally seized the initiative very early on and moved on. Giacomo Nizzolo (Trek-Segafredo) tried with all his might to stay on the German's rear wheel, but didn't stand a chance. Mark Cavendish seemed a little surprised by Kittel's early advance and was not in the best position at the decisive moment. Although he was able to move up to second place, he clearly lost out against Kittel. The Etixx – Quick-Step newcomer crossed the finish line with a lead of more than one wheel length – what a comeback. With the win, Kittel also takes the overall lead, four seconds ahead of Mark Cavendish. So it really seems to be going as expected - we will see a showdown between Kittel and Cavendish in Dubai. The sequel is tomorrow!

Result Dubai Tour 2016 1st stage