Merida sprint to top

Manama : Bahrain’s Merida Cycling Team has recorded another podium finish, when their Italian sprinter Sonny Colbrelli (four hours 3 minutes 8 seconds) took third place in Dubai Tour’s third stage in a bunch sprint after 200km of cycling on the longest stage of the 800km five-stage race between Dubai and Al Aqah in Fujairah on the UAE’s Eastern coast.

This accomplishment comes just a few days after the team topped the general standings in the La Vuelta a San Juan cycling race in Argentina, when Lithuanian sprinter Ramunas Navardauskas also won third place in the third stage of the Tour.

Winning first place on stage three was German John Degenkolb (4:03:08) of Trek-Segafredo Team, who took a close win over South Africa’s Reinardt Janse van Rensburg (4:03:08) of Dimension Data Team.

Race leader, Marcel Kittel (12:34:54) of Quick-Step Floors, was punched by Ukraine’s Andriy Grivko of the Astana Pro Team and left bloodied during the stage with Grivko subsequently being disqualified.

Kittel finished outside the Top 10 as he was blocked in, but still leads the general classification.

Eight seconds behind in second place is Netherland’s Dylan of the LottoNL-Jumbo Team and in third is Degenkolb (+10 seconds) moving up to third.

Commenting on Bahrain Meida’s new accomplishment, Sports Director of the team, Alberto Volpi expressed extreme satisfaction after the race and said, “The Stage was complicated due to very strong winds. I am happy with the team work in the first part. Colbrelli had great support from his team-mates in the final of this complicated stage. I am happy with the team effort and the final result.”

Meanwhile, third placed Colbrelli said after the race: “I am very very happy that the team was very strong today and this is a very important race. I am ready for the fourth stage.”