Viviani wins stage to take overall lead in Abu Dhabi

Elia Viviani won stage two of the Abu Dhabi Tour to take the overall lead of the race.

Viviani overpowered Danny van Poppel and Pascal Ackermann on the finish straight of the 154km stage from Yas Mall to Yas Beach.

The Italian’s Quick-Step Floors team had their lead-out train in position on the front after the peloton passed under the flamme rouge, only for Lotto NL Jumbo’s Van Poppel to burst through at the same time as Bora-Hansgrohe’s Ackermann moved up on the right.

That left Viviani with work to do, but, as he latched on to Van Poppel’s wheel, he had too much power for his rivals and was comfortably first to the line.

Stage one winner Alexander Kristoff (UAE Team Emirates) finished in seventh place, giving Viviani the race leaders’ red jersey on the countback.

Echelons had split the race up with around 35km to go but the groups came back together for the final 15km to set up the sprint finish.