The other Manxman on show in Dubai, Mark Christian (Aqua Blue Sport) booked himself some more TV time in the day’s break, where he was joined by British time trial champion Alex Dowsett (Movistar).

Loic Vliegen (BMC Racing) and Luka Pibernik (Bahrain-Merida) also went clear, and the break’s advantage grew to more than five minutes at its peak.

But little could have prepared the riders for what was to come, after the relative calm of stage two was replaced by a brutal test of their ability in the crosswinds.

#DubaiTour ???? Here’s a taste of the strong winds that have caused the echelons. pic.twitter.com/TOtTqv5ppB

— BMC Racing Team (@BMCProTeam) February 2, 2017

Sand and debris was strewn across the road, while Marcel Kittel suffered a cut above his eye after being elbowed in the face by Astana’s Andriy Grivko – who has been kicked out of the race – as a frenetic pace was set and echelons formed.

With the racing hard, there was little time for a trip to the medic’s car, not least because Kittel had to chase back on to a group containing Cavendish – who, as ever, appeared at home in the crosswinds.

Both Kittel and Cavendish’s sprint trains came to the fore, but with the peloton strung out after a small hill and long tunnel with 2.5km to go, neither of the two fast men were with their team-mates.

Reinardt Janse van Rensburg took on sprinting duties for Dimension Data instead, but Degenkolb pipped him on the line to record his first win in Trek-Segafredo colours.

Once again, British champion Adam Blythe (Aqua Blue Sport) was inside the top ten, while three Brits – Dowsett, Cavendish and Tom Stewart (ONE Pro Cycling) sit in the top ten overall.

Dubai Tour 2017: stage three – result

1) John Degenkolb (GER) – Trek-Segafredo – 4.03.08hrs
2) Reinardt Janse van Rensburg (RSA) – Dimension Data – ST
3) Sonny Colbrelli (ITA) – Bahrain-Merida
4) Juan Jose Lobato (ESP) – LottoNL-Jumbo
5) Riccardo Minali (ITA) – Astana
6) Jempy Drucker (LUX) – BMC Racing
7) Elia Viviani (ITA) – Team Sky
8) Dylan Groenewegen (NED) – LottoNL-Jumbo
9) Adam Blythe (GBR) – Aqua Blue Sport
10) Daniele Bennati (ITA) – Movistar

General classification

1) Marcel Kittel (GER) – QuickStep Floors – 12.34.54hrs
2) Dylan Groenewegen (NED) – LottoNL-Jumbo +8”
3) John Degenkolb (GER) – Trek-Segafredo +10”
4) Nicola Boem (ITA) – Bardiani-CSF +13”
5) Jempy Drucker (LUX) – BMC Racing +14”
6) Reinardt Janse van Rensburg (RSA) – Dimension Data – ST
7) Alex Dowsett (GBR) – Movistar
8) Tom Stewart (GBR) – ONE Pro Cycling
9) Jakub Mareczko (ITA) – Wilier-Triestina +16”
10) Mark Cavendish (GBR) – Dimension Data – ST