UAE Tour, first stage to Tim Merlier

UAE Tour, first stage to Tim Merlier

Tim Merlier (Soudal Quick-Step) won the Burjeel Holding Stage, the first stage of the sixth edition of the UAE Tour: he did so ahead of Arvid De Kleijn (Tudor Pro Cycling) and Jakub Mareckzo (Team Corratec – Vini Fantini). The 30-year-old Belgian è also obviously the first Red Jersey of the race since he leads the general classification.

"A victory è always nice, but getting my first WorldTour win of the season è even nicer,” Merlier said at the end of the stage. “I made the right decision to change sides of the road with 500 meters to go. Gaviria and Molano started from a distance in a headwind. I made a bit of a mistake in my choice of ratio but è it went well anyway".

"I want to win every flat stage of the UAE Tour but itè not easy becauseé the competitionè very high. Almost all the best sprinters are here. I am already; happy with a win also becauseé me the pressure" concluded the 1992 class.