Taylor Phinney (Team BMC) (Image credit: Bettini Photo)
Taylor Phinney (BMC) on his way to victory in Dubai(Image credit: Bettini Photo)
Taylor Phinney (BMC) (Image credit: Bettini Photo)
Taylor Phinney (BMC) came to the Dubai Tour focused on winning the opening time trial and setting up a shot at overall success. Phinney put out a huge 490 watts for 12 minutes, touching speeds of 60km early on the course, with the help of a tail wind, as he raced towards victory on Wednesday.
"I really, really, wanted to win. It's been a couple of months that I've been thinking about this race, ever since the course was released online," he told Cyclingnews.
"I know I had a good chance to win and I knew I had stiff competition, some of the best guys in the world at this distance are here. I was super, super nervous in the final couple of minutes as I watched Tony [Martin] but so relieved and so happy when I found out I'd won"
Phinney leads teammate Steve Cummings by 14 seconds, with Lasse Norman Hansen (Garmin-Sharp) third overall at 16 seconds. Phinney can fight for the three-two-one bonus seconds on offer at stage finishes and the one second bonuses offered at two intermediate sprints on each stage.
He is slightly worried about possible crosswinds and the dangers of attacks in echelons but knows that BMC has selected a team for this four-day race that would be ready to ride for him.
"I'll have to look at [the results] more in detail and see where the sprinters are. You never know with sprint finishes and bonus seconds. It'll be windy and you can gain or lose a lot in the wind. But we'll be up there at the front controlling the race and we'll take it one day at a time," he said.
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
To subscribe to the Cyclingnews video channel, click here.
Stephen is one of the most experienced members of the Cyclingnews team, having reported on professional cycling since 1994. Before becoming Editor-at-large, he was Head of News at Cyclingnews. He has previously worked for Shift Active Media, Reuters and Cycling Weekly. He is a member of the Board of the Association Internationale des Journalistes du Cyclisme (AIJC).
