Phinney Wins Opening TT in Tour of Dubai

AFP/Yuzuru Sunada

Taylor Phinney rode into cycling’s history books on Wednesday, the American claimed the first stage of the inaugural Tour of Dubai. The BMC rider won the four-stage event’s 9.9 kilometer time trial by 14 seconds ahead of his British teammate Steve Cummings. Denmark’s 2012 Olympic omnium gold medallist Lasse Hansen was a further 16 seconds adrift in third. German World Time Trial Champion Tony Martin, who set off last, finished fourth.

Phinney had felt confident about his level of preparedness going into the new event on the professional cycling circuit after a second place in the time trial at the Tour de San Luis in Argentina last month.

“I thought I was going to beat my record of watts, I reached 490. I knew I was already in good condition as I’d worked well over the winter,” said the 23-year-old.

Phinney, the son of two Olympic medallists at the 1984 Games, is an early starter, the 2009 and 2010 world pursuit champion finished on the podium in last year’s neighboring Tour of Qatar.

Thursday’s second stage favors the sprinters in the peloton and is a 122km run from the capital of the United Arab Emirates state to Palm Jumeirah.

Tour of Dubai Stage 1
1. Taylor Phinney (USA/BMC) 12:03
2. Steven Cumming (Gbr/BMC) @ :14
3. Lasse Norman Hansen (Den/Garmin-Sharp) @ :16
4. Tony Martin (Ger) Omega Pharma Quick Step) @ :22
5. Fabian Cancellara (Swi/Trek) @ :26
6. Peter Sagan (Svk/Cannondale) @ :31
7. Adriano Malori (Ita/Movistar) @ :32
8. Maciej Bodnar (Pol/Cannondale) @ :35
9. Alexander Porsev (Rus/Katusha) @ s.t.
10. Peter Velits (Svk/BMC) @ :37