Abu Dhabi: An overjoyed Tanel Kangert described his 2016 Abu Dhabi Tour victory as “special” on Sunday night given that it was sealed under the lights of the spectacular Yas Marina Circuit.

Kangert, of Team Astana, had the luxury of knowing before the fourth and final stage – which was won by Mark Cavendish – that his first major title was tantalisingly within reach.

He only needed to avoid crashing, having opened up a whopping 21-second lead over second-place Nicolas Roche by winning the punishing third mountain stage at Jebel Hafeet on Saturday.

History was also on his side, as the inaugural Abu Dhabi Tour winner last year,

Esteban Chaves, had also won the third stage, and Kangert duly continued this trend.

“I have to say it’s a great way to finish the season for me and for the team,” said the smiling 29-year-old Estonian, who prevailed over Roche in second and Italy’s Diego Ulissi in third. “For me personally, it was the first time on the podium in a race like this.

The first time [I’ve had an] overall victory, and I hope it was the first of a few to come.”
It was a surreal and exhilarating sight to see Kangert and co emulate their motorsport counterparts with a thrilling exhibition of speed at the home of November’s Formula One Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

“I was waiting for the race,” Kangert added. “In the race I felt safe and comfortable. I even enjoyed racing in the dark. It was a special race, here at the FI circuit.”

Was it his first night race?

“As an amateur I did some in France. They are nice but they are very particular because it’s in the night, it is artificial light and everything seems to go much faster than it actually is.”

Did doing 26 laps, of 5.5 kilometres each, get monotonous?

“There are not so many corners, so I didn’t even understand we were racing in a circuit,” replied Kangert, who was congratulated on his victory by a hardy group of six Estonians proudly sporting their country’s colours.

Cavendish, the ambassador for the race, was also ebullient afterwards after sealing his second stage victory after winning the Nation Towers stage on Friday.

The Dimension Data rider claimed his 10th win of the year by out-sprinting second-placed Giacomo Nizzolo (Trek-Segafredo) and third-placed Elia Viviani (Team Sky).
“I am really happy,” said the 31-year-old, who missed last year’s race due to injury. “I’m the ambassador of the race, so I wanted to come and be successful here. We had a great show and a strong turnout today at a spectacular circuit at Yas Marina.”

What was it like racing at Yas Marina Circuit?

“It was special; I was making car noises going around the corners,” said Cavendish, who claimed the green jersey for winning the general points classification. “I’ve ridden here before on the bike, but I’d like to do it in a car at some point.”

He added that he is looking forward to returning for the third annual event in February, which has been upgraded to World Tour status.

“It shows how far it’s come that in two years, it will become the highest level event.”

Stage four result

1 Mark Cavendish (GB) Dimension Data, 3:07:44
2 Giacomo Nizzolo (Ita) Trek-Segafredo, same time
3 Elia Viviani (Ita) Team Sky, st
4 Magnus Cort Nielsen (Den) Orica-BikeExchnage, st
5 Jean-Pierre Drucker (Lux) BMC Racing, st
6 Ramon Sinkeldam (Ned) Giant-Alpecin, st
7 Michael Matthews (Aus) Orica-BikeExchange, st
8 Sacha Modolo (Ita) Lampre-Merida, st
9 Mark Renshaw (Aus) Dimension Data, st
10 Michael Kolar (Slo) Tinkoff, st

General classification

1 Tanel Kangert (Est) Astana, 12:27:34
2 Nicolas Roche (Irl) Team Sky, +21sec
3 Diego Ulissi (Ita) lampre-Merida, +43
4 Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Astana, +1:00
5 Alberto Contador (Esp) Tinkoff, +same time
6 Julien Bernard (Fra) Trek-Segafredo, +1:02
7 Ben Hermans (Bel) BMC Racing, +1:29
8 Martijn Tusveld (Ned) Giant-Alpecin, +1:38
9 Winner Anacona (Col) Movistar, st
10 Jesper Hansen (Den) Tinkoff, st

JERSEYS

•RED JERSEY, sponsored by the Abu Dhabi Sports Council (General Classification by time) – Tanel Kangert (Astana Pro Team)
•GREEN JERSEY, sponsored by Nation Towers (General Classification by points) – Mark Cavendish (Team Dimension Data)
•WHITE JERSEY, sponsored by Abu Dhabi Sports (Best Young Rider, born after 1 January 1991) – Julien Bernard (Trek - Segafredo)
•BLACK JERSEY, sponsored by Etihad (Intermediate Sprint Classification) – Jens Keukeleire (Orica - BikeExchange)