The organisers of The Dubai Tour have announced that today’s fourth stage of the race from Dubai to Hatta Dam has been cancelled due to strong winds.
Bad weather had been expected as a decision had been made yesterday to shorten the route of today’s stage and move it to an area where less wind has been expected. However, upon arrival at the start this morning, it was so windy that it was agreed between the organisation and the Direteur Sportifs to cancel the stage.
The following statement was subsequently released: “The Race Management, in agreement with the Commissaires Panel, have applied the UCI’s Extreme Weather Protocol & cancelled today’s Stage 4.”
The announcement was met with approval from various riders and managers such as Trek-Segafredo’s John Degenkolb who said: “We were up racing today but due to heavy sandstorm we appreciate the decision of the jury to cancel stage 4 of the dubai tour.”
Race leader Marcel Kittel (Quick Step Floors) said: “Good decision of @rcssport & UCI to cancel stage 4 of @dubaitour. It’s a real storm out here in Hatta & riders safety needs priority.”
The decision means that Kittel has just one flat stage left to defend his lead. The German goes into tomorrow’s fifth stage with an eight second lead over Dylan Groenewegen (Team LottoNL-Jumbo) with Degenkolb a further two seconds behind.
Racing in Dubai?!? It’s pathetic. But I guess, like everything in this world, money talks 🙁