Vladimir Gusev and Nicolas Lefrancois lead the early escape to a two-minute lead...
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Different country, different culture - but it's a bike race all the same for anyone actually in it...
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Philippe Gilbert is starting his season in Dubai, then Qatar, before the European races that are more in his favour
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Joachim Rodriguez chats with manager Jose Azevedo about the tactics today...
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Laurens de Vreese stretches out, the Belgian has a niggling injury that he could do without...
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The five escapers look across to the peloton before the big U-turn in the desert - it's still a two-minute gap...
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The Dubai desert is not totallly flat here, a 10-metre high sand dune hovers over the peloton..!
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Gusev pushes the escape along nicely, they've neither gained nor lost a single second in 50-kilometres...
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Johan Van Summeren has changed teams for 2015, but his job hasn't changed at all...
Lars Boom leads Astana through a turn - their sprinter Guardini is in with a chance today...
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Guardini (left) is in with a big chance, but he's a bike length behind Cavendish on the line
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Mark Cavendish wins stage one from Guardini and Viviani - and takes the race-lead...!
Mark Cavendish is a proud wearer of the Paul Smith-designed leader's jersey
Nasar El Mamari is spoilt for choice as he gets water and a banana from the team car...
