I am overjoyed that after yesterday’s setback, I could win the second stage of the Abu Dhabi Tour. But I must say that it was hard work, because our plan to to shape the race from the front and be the first to take the curve at three kilometer, didn’t really work out. We were pretty far back but fortunately still had the opportunity on the broad street to move up. We had also discussed this scenario in our team meeting.

I went into the final kilometer as about 25th and had to work myself forward. 300 meters before the finish I was about eighth and that was when I started to believe that it could be enough, used the hole I found and even had a little advantage in the headwind. The finish line couldn’t have come any earlier though, otherwise I wouldn’t have been able to get by Cav and Caleb. Throwing my bike at the line was decisive today. Caleb had already raised his arms from the handlebars to celebrate and I fortunately slipped past him.

The team and I are very happy with this win. It is very hectic here as you could see yesterday when I crashed 1000 meters before the finish line. There is a hard fight for position and when you can then win without a perfect lead out, it is even better that you can make the right decision, even in the chaos. My form is good, my legs feel good. And I think that yesterday I would have been in at the win, if I had not crashed.

Yours, Marci

Photos: roth-foto.de