This will really be a meeting of the sprinters. And from the GC riders, only Christopher Froome is missing, otherwise we would have the perfect line-up like at a Grand Tour.

It was raining when we got here. Funny, that earlier in Dubai and now here in Abu Dhabi we have run into some of then few rainy days in the desert.

After several training days with an emphasis on the basics, I am interested to see how it goes here. Of course I hope to leave here with good results, that is, with a win. But we will see. With Cav, Andre, and Caleb, the competition is really strong and we are actually here with a team that is more aimed at GC than a lead out.

Photo: roth-foto.de