Dubai Tour: Mark Cavendish's title bid ends as Juan Jose Lobato wins

Mark Cavendish’s hopes of defending his Dubai Tour title were ended by a late puncture as Juan Jose Lobato won stage three and Giacomo Nizzolo claimed the overall lead.

Cavendish had been safely placed in the peloton on the run to the uphill finish on Hatta Dam but had to stop for a wheel change with just over 10km remaining and eventually finished 5min 15sec down in 93rd place.

A selection of stage favourites were all present at the front of the bunch leading on to the final climb, which is just over 400m long and reaches a maximum gradient of 17 per cent, and it was Lobato (Movistar) who emerged with a perfectly timed acceleration to win by two seconds from runner-up Nizzolo (Trek-Segafredo) and third-placed Silvan Dillier (BMC Racing).

With previous race leader Elia Viviani (Team Sky) having been dropped earlier, Nizzolo climbed from third to top of the general classification and now leads second-placed Lobato by two seconds overall.

Marcel Kittel (Etixx - Quick-Step), who started the day second in the standings, produced a brilliant performance to finish sixth on the day, four seconds down, but he drops one place to third overall, six seconds off the pace with one stage remaining.

Cavendish tweeted: "Not often I'm top15 over a decisive climb. So when I am, a puncture on the descent's a good way to bring me back down to earth."

Lobato said: "I knew this finale from last year and it's exactly the kind of finish that I like. It was all about being well positioned before the last climb and I was. I'm very happy to get my first win of the year here.

"Tomorrow I'll see if I get a chance to fight for the overall win. If not I'll pursue further goals later on. I'm already happy with what I achieved today."

Ten, six and four bonus seconds are on offer to the first three riders over the finish line on Saturday's flat final stage, meaning Nizzolo, Lobato and Kittel all still have good chances of taking the title.

Nizzolo said: "After two flat stages where I was third, to be again on the podium today is a great pleasure. Today I am the leader and tonight we enjoy the jersey, and tomorrow we will fight a lot to keep the jersey. We are ready."

Stage three result

1 Juan Jose Lobato (Esp) Movistar, 4:13:23

2 Giacomo Nizzolo (Ita) Trek-Segafredo, +2secs

3 Silvan Dillier (Sui) BMC Racing, +4

4 Fabian Cancellara (Sui) Trek-Segafredo, same time

5 Philippe Gilbert (Bel) BMC Racing, st

6 Marcel Kittel (Ger) Etixx - Quick-Step, st

7 Gorka Izagirre (Esp) Movistar, +7

8 Daniele Bennati (Ita) Tinkoff, st

9 Davide Rebellin (Ita) CCC Sprandi Polkowice, st

10 Matteo Trentin (Ita) Etixx - Quick-Step, +8

General classification

1 Giacomo Nizzolo (Ita) Trek-Segafredo, 11:56:11

2 Juan Jose Lobato (Esp) Movistar, +2secs

3 Marcel Kittel (Ger) Etixx - Quick-Step, +6

4 Silvan Dillier (Sui) BMC Racing, +12

5 Gorka Izagirre (Esp) Movistar, +19

6 Philippe Gilbert (Bel) BMC Racing, +21

7 Fabian Cancellara (Sui) Trek-Segafredo, same time

8 Daniele Bennati (Ita) Tinkoff, +24

9 Davide Rebellin (Ita) CCC Sprandi Polkowice, st

10 Soufiane Haddi (Mor) Skydive Dubai, +25