Cycling: Tim Merlier won the first stage of the UAE Tour. In a chaotic bunch sprint with numerous crashes, the Belgian was able to prevail over the Dutchman Arvid de Kleijn.
Tim Merlier celebrates his third win of the season
As expected, at the start of the 6th UAE Tour there was a sprint royal after 141 kilometers from Al Dhafra Walk Madinat Zayed to Liwa. Unfortunately, due to a mass fall, not all sprinters were actually able to make it to the finish line. So had Tim Merlier (Soudal – Quick-Step) easy game. The Belgian was clearly ahead of the Dutchman Arvid de Kleijn (Tudor) and the Italian Jakub Mareczko (Corratec – Vini Fantini). When the day was ninth Phil Bauhaus (Bahrain – Victorious) best German. Much more would have been possible for him if his team hadn't brought him forward too early. On the other hand, 200 meters from the finish line there was a fatal mass fall directly behind the top sprinters. Jarne van de Paar (Lotto – Dstny) wanted to start his sprint, but touched the one who was falling behind Danny van Poppel (Bora – hansgrohe).
Adam Yates wants to defend his title
The 6th edition of the UAE Tour ends on Sunday after seven stages on the Jebel Hafeet. Tomorrow, a 12,1 kilometer long time trial in Al Hudayriyat Island will decide which mountain riders can actually compete for overall victory here. All that is said about the previous winners is: Adam Yates (UAE) at the start, who won the 2020 race. His opponents include, among others bilbao hair (Bahrain-Victorious), Ben O'Connor (Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale), Simon Carr (EF – EasyPost), Tobias Foss (Ineos Grenadiers), Ilan van Wilder (Soudal – Quick Step) and Eddie Dunbar (Jayco-AlUla).
Tim Merlier wins the first stage UAE Tour. Chaotic sprint, hoping the riders involved are ok. #UAETour pic.twitter.com/85z69aOguu
— Eemeli (@LosBrolin) February 19, 2024