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Cycling fan gets dream ride with Cavendish

Abu Dhabi - The two raced around the 5.55km track in under 15 minutes, at the location that will set the final stage of the Abu Dhabi Tour.

Long-time Abu Dhabi resident Carl Grzegorzek won a once in a lifetime opportunity to don the Lycra and cycle around the world famous F1 track with his cycling hero, Mark "Manx Missile" Cavendish, thanks to Emirates Motor Company (EMC), the automotive sponsor of the Abu Dhabi Tour 2017.
The two raced around the 5.55km track in under 15 minutes, at the location that will set the final stage of the Abu Dhabi Tour.
Commenting on the experience to ride with the man who many in the sport regard as the greatest sprinter of all time, the British expat said: "The weather wasn't great, but the company was fantastic. Mark was a gentlemen, he's just a really nice, normal, down to earth guy, and he didn't go too fast for me, so we could chat the whole way around.
"I was pretty puffed out by the end of the lap, but he didn't even draw breath."
Carl revealed that he asked his idol lots of questions about his preparation before big races and for the long season ahead.
He continued: "I got to ask Mark about his plans for the season, and as usual, his main focus right now is the Abu Dhabi Tour as he's here to win it. It's great to hear him talk so highly of the event and the UAE in general as he loves it here.
"He said it's been a very short off season this year, but he's relaxed and happy to have been out riding his bike like a normal person, he feels very fit and fresh to go for the season."
Carl, an amateur cyclist himself who often rides around the Yas Marina Circuit track, ended up finishing the lap with a mad dash to pip his hero at the finish line, jokingly noting that he was 'quite pleased with his performance, despite Mark not trying to outdo him'.
He added: "I've been here last two years to watch the Abu Dhabi Tour, but it's a very different perspective being on the track with one of the riders than in the stands watching, it was a really, really great experience."
Ramez Youssef, the head of marketing and communications at Al Fahim Group, authorised Mercedes-Benz distributor in Abu Dhabi, said: "We're delighted to have given one of our customers the opportunity to meet one of his heroes, and glad that he got so much from the experience.
reporters@khaleejtimes.com