Greig Leach

With just seven and a half kilometers to the finish of the first road stage, it was time to try and line out the peloton. Maunele Boaro (Bahrain Merida) and his teammate Domenico Pozzovivo vied for control at the front with Tony Martin (Katusha-Alpecin). Martin had stretched the group out as they came out of the first two tight ninety degree turns. He was using his famed time trial skills to keep his team's GC man save on the run in to the finish. Boaro was trying to set up Pozzovivo for the stage win. I will admitt that I enjoy that there are two Arab based teams racing through the streets of Israel to the cheers of crowds all along the course.