Cycling: The four-day Sharjah Tour started today with a prologue. The winner and thus the first to wear the leader's jersey is Frenchman Julien Morice (Vital Concept). His teammate and compatriot Bryan Coquard finished tenth, 20 seconds down. Tomorrow he will try his luck in the mass sprint – as will Lucas Carstensen from the German Team Bike Aid.
Coquard wants to start the season well
The Bryan coquard there is certainly still a good deal of anger with him. If you could see her, she'd probably be sitting on the back of his luggage rack. His Team Vital Concept was not invited to the Tour de France by the organizers. Now Coquard has to live another year without the Grand Boucle. The little sprint star is currently preparing for his season in the United Arab Emirates. Until Saturday he, his strong teammates and many other teams will be fighting for good form in the warm area. The tour will take the riders through the Emirate of Sharjah over a further three stages until Saturday.
The victory of @MORICEJulien on the 1st stage of the Tour de Sharjah ! pic.twitter.com/vOsJvaflR1
— Mathilde L'Azou (@MathildeLAzou) 24 January 2018
Germany is represented by the Bike Aid team
The German team Bike Aid with Lucas Carstensen and Nikodemus Holler is also at the start of the Sharjah Tour. Lucas Carstensen ensured the first German victory in 2018 at the Tropicale Amissa Bongo last week. He will also fight for good positions in the mass sprints at the Sharjah Tour. In addition to Bryan Coquard, he will compete there, above all with Jakub Mareczko (Wilier Triestina-Selle Italia). Is scheduled for the overall rating Nicodemus Holler, who finished second overall in Gabon last week. Above all, the third stage of the Sharjah Tour is on his agenda. Velomotion conducted a detailed interview with both German pros, which is extremely exciting for cycling fans and will be published on our website tomorrow.
The stage profiles of the Sharjah Tour
After the 10,2-kilometer prologue at the start of the tour, there will probably be two mass sprints over the next three days. The third stage should be able to grab a good climber. If you want to be at the top of the overall standings, you have to be careful of wind edges and have good legs on the decisive, bumpy stage.
Stage #2: Al Batayeh Cultural Center-Mleiha (151,6 km)
Stage 3: Dibba-Wadi Al Helo Ladies Club (116,7 km)
Leg #4: Old Sharjah-The Corniche (99,1 km)
