Stage 3

he route is similar to last year’s 2nd stage. Also with start and finish in Abu Dhabi town the race came down to a bunch sprint, with Marcel Kittel besting Caleb Ewan and Mark Cavendish.

The race sets off at the Nation Towers and leaves town to head for Al Wathba Wetland Reserve, an area of five square kilometers, comprising wetlands, sabkhas (salt flats), fossilized sands and dunes. It is most famous for its flamingo population. The riders don’t enter the park to be birders though, instead they head back to the city for a likely bunch sprint.

The race doesn’t finish on the Corniche, but close to it. Corniche Road forms a sweeping curve which is replete with cycle paths, beaches, fountains, playgrounds, and park areas – yet, the stage ends at Al Marina, a peninsula on the south end of the Corniche.

The first three riders on the line take time bonuses of 10, 6 and 4 seconds, while the two intermediate sprints (at kilometre 46.4 and at kilometre 83.9) come with 3, 2 and 1 seconds.

The 3rd stage of the 2018 Abu Dhabi Tour starts at 13:40 and the finish is expected around 16:45 – both local times.