The win is Cavendish’s ninth since joining Dimension Data – including overall victory at the Tour of Qatar – in a year which has seen him juggle track and road commitments.

The breakaway nearly foiled the fast men, after a lull in pace allowed a six-man move containing ONE Pro Cycling duo Sam Williams and Dion Smith to maintain a sizable lead.

But after finally reeling them in with less than a kilometre remaining, the anticipated sprint finish unfolded.

The final 11km climb, with a maximum gradient of 11 per cent and a sharp kick, following a small descent, at the finish line saw Johan Esteban Chaves crowned winner last year.

And it’s likely to be a rider of similar ilk – Vincenzo Nibali (Astana) and Alberto Contador (Tinkoff) are among the contenders, who takes the red jersey from Cavendish.

Abu Dhabi Tour 2016: stage two – result

1) Mark Cavendish (GBR) – Dimension Data – 2.32.21hrs
2) Elia Viviani (ITA) – Team Sky – ST
3) Andrea Guardini (ITA) – Astana
4) Jakub Mareczko (ITA) – Wilier-Southeast
5) Jean-Pierre Drucker (LUX) – BMC Racing
6) Giacomo Nizzolo (ITA) – Trek-Segafredo
7) Chris Latham (GBR) – Team Wiggins
8) Michael Kolar (SVK) – Tinkoff
9) Steele von Hoff (AUS) – ONE Pro Cycling
10) Magnus Cort Nielsen (DEN) – Orica-BikeExchange

General classification

1) Mark Cavendish (GBR) – Dimension Data – 5.48.06hrs
2) Giacomo Nizzolo (ITA) – Trek-Segafredo +4″
3) Jens Keukeleire (BEL) – Orica-BikeExchange +5″
4) Elia Viviani (ITA) – Team Sky +8″
5) John Degenkolb (GER) – Giant-Alpecin – ST
6) Andrea Guardini (ITA) – Astana +10″
7) Dion Smith (NZL) – ONE Pro Cycling – ST
8) Chris Latham (GBR) – Team Wiggins +14″
9) Jempy Drucker (LUX) – BMC Racing – ST
10) Michael Kolar (SVK) – Tinkoff