Dubai Tour: Elia Viviani praises Team Sky's lead-out train after sprinting to victory on stage two
Thursday 5 February 2015 14:59, UK
Elia Viviani claimed Team Sky have “one of the best lead-out trains in the world” after sprinting to victory on stage two of the Dubai Tour.
The 25-year-old Italian produced an unstoppable surge to beat Mark Cavendish into second place and Andrea Guardini into third.
It was his first victory for Team Sky following a winter move from Cannondale and he is confident he will enjoy many more with the British squad.
He told teamsky.com: “I think we now have such a strong team for the sprints. We have me, [Ben] Swifty and Andy [Fenn], but before that we have Bernie [Eisel] and G [Geraint Thomas]. This is one of the best lead-out trains in the world.
“Today was a long stage – close to 200km – and I think it shows that we are in very good condition at this point of the season.”
'Great victory'
Viviani has now finished on the podium in three of his four races so far this season, having previously crossed the line third on stage one in Dubai and claimed a second place in the Trofeo Satanyi in Mallorca last week.
Team Sky allowed Mark Cavendish’s Etixx – Quick-Step team to lead the peloton into the final 1km on stage two, but Viviani was able to power past the Manxman with an impressive show of strength at the death.
“After yesterday we looked at the video and we analysed what we could do better and what we could change,” he added.
“Andy, me and Swifty moved back a little bit on to the Etixx – Quick-Step train and we waited for the right moment. When I saw the chance, I went for it. It was a great victory.”
