Bora-Hansgrohe’s Pascal Ackermann reacts after winning the first stage of the UAE Tour in Dubai on Sunday.
Chris Froome returned to competitive cycling for the first time in eight months as German Pascal Ackermann sprinted to an opening-stage victory on the UAE Tour on Sunday.
It was seven-time Grand Tour winner Froome’s first competitive stage since suffering numerous injuries in a high-speed crash into a wall while training at the Criterium du Dauphine last June.
That has delayed by 12 months his assault on a record-equalling fifth Tour de France crown, a journey that begins with a tough week in the Dubai desert.
He finished safely in the pack after the 148km ride around Dubai.
“It feels good to be a bike racer again,” the Briton told Team Ineos.
“The year’s gone incredibly well so far but having said that I do still need to manage expectations.
“I’m still quite a way off where I was at the Dauphine before the crash. It’s going to take me a while to get back to that shape.”
“It will be a huge relief just to be back in the peloton again,” he said. “It feels like I’ve been given a second chance to come back to pro racing after a crash like that. I’m definitely not taking that for granted.”
Ackermann started his sprint 300 metres out and that decision was vindicated as he held off Caleb Ewan to take his second win of the year.
“I’m super happy with this victory because almost all the top sprinters are here and I wasn’t sure if my shape was good enough to beat them all,” said Ackermann.
“Now I know that my shape is good and I can take it easy the next few days. It was a hectic sprint in which I was jumping from one guy’s wheel to another one. I took my chance at the right time,” he added.
UAE Team Emirates’ Fernando Gaviria get boxed in with 200m to go and round off the day with a frustrating 20th place.
A strong performance from the team overall saw Oliviero Troia pulling the peloton throughout the race in an attempt to keep the early breakaway of four riders on a manageable leash.
The breakaway was eventually caught with 14km to go as the peloton started to accelerate and get their sprinters into formation.
Maximilano Richeze guided Gaviria expertly to the final 200m as the Colombian looked to open his sprint.
However, it was a frustrating end to the race for the team’s fast man, as two riders blocked him in causing him to halt his sprint inside the final 200m.
Gaviria said: “There was a bit of contact in the sprint which hampered me, but in a hectic finale that’s to be expected. The main thing is no crashes and the legs are good for the next stages. I’m already looking to tomorrow which is a steep uphill that don’t really suits me, but I will try, along with the team, to give my best.”
Attention now turns to Monday’s Dubai Municipality Stage as the race heads to Hatta, culminating after 168km with a brutal finish up the punishing Hatta Dam climb.
The second stage starts from Hatta (Heritage Village) and crosses the Hajar Mountains and the surrounding desert on wide, straight roads with continuous undulations.
After the turning point in Fujairah the route returns towards Hatta. Beyond Munay, the route turns to Huwaylat and from there to Hatta Fort.
Stage four is set up for the sprinters before the second summit finish at Jebel Hafeet with the race concluding with two long flat sprinter-friendly rides.
Meanwhile, the UAE National Anti-Doping Committee officially launched the mobile anti-doping bus at the 2020 UAE Tour.
The bus will also serves as an outreach station, working effectively within the sports system, emphasizing the importance of education and awareness starting from young ages. This initiative matches international standards following WADA stressing important role of National Anti-Doping Committees in each country.
The mobile vehicle designed for doping testing ensures the highest international standards, comparable with the best similar service providers.