The Belgian sprinter of the Soudal-Quick Step team Tim Merlier was declared winner of the 1st stage of the Tour of the United Arab Emirates, by a few millimeters ahead of Caleb Ewan.
After the Tour Down Under and the Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race, the third round of the World Tour 2023 takes place all this week on the side of the United Arab Emirates, on the occasion of the UAE Tour. The double defending champion and star of the UAE Emirates team Tadej Pogacar has decided to skip this year, and Remco Evenepoel, Adam Yates or even Pello Bilbao hope to take the opportunity to shine. While waiting for the difficult stages, this UAE Tour began with a flat stage of 151 kilometers on Monday, with a start at an altitude of 96m and an arrival at 7m.
The sprinters were expected, and they were there, with Tim Merlier’s victory in extremis ahead of Caleb Ewan. The Belgian from Soudal-Quick Step was declared the winner after a long study of the photo-finish. The Australian from Lotto Dstny initially thought he had won, but it was indeed Merlier (30) who won the 25th victory of his career, the second this year after a stage in the Tour of Oman. Mark Cavendish finished third.
Evenepoel takes nearly a minute from A.Yates
During this stage which took place under 24°c but with a strong wind, the Belgian teams Soudal-QuickStep and Lotto-Dstny joined their efforts 29km from the finish to cause some curbs. And it paid off! The leading group, including Remco Evenepoel and Pello Bilbao, indeed arrived 51 seconds before the peloton, where Adam Yates had been trapped. The Briton is already starting with a big handicap even though the difficult stages have not been started. But Tuesday, the ranking could be upset, car it’s a flat team time trial of 17 kilometers that will be on the program.
WORLD TOUR / UNITED ARAB EMIRATES TOUR
Classification of the 1st stage (Al Dhafra Castle – Al Mirfa, 151km) – Monday February 20, 2023
1- Tim Merlier (BEL/Soudal-Quick Step) in 3h17’35
2- Caleb Ewan (AUS/Lotto Dstny) mt
3- Mark Cavendish (GBR/Astana Qazakstan) mt
4- Olav Kooij (PBS/Jumbo-Visma) mt
5- Nikias Arndt (GER/Bahrain Victorious) mt
6- Phil Bauhaus (GER/Bahrain Victorious) mt
7- Luke Plapp (AUS / Ineos Grenadiers) mt
8- Remco Evenepoel (BEL/Soudal-Quick Step) mt
9- Pello Bilbao (ESP/Bahrain Victorious) mt
10- Cees Bol (PBS/Astana Qazaqstan) mt
…
General classification (after 1 stage out of 7) – Monday 20 February 2023
1- Tim Merlier (BEL/Soudal-Quick Step) in 3h17’25
2- Caleb Ewan (AUS/Lotto Dstny) at 4″
3- Luke Plapp (AUS / Ineos Grenadiers) at 5
4- Mark Cavendish (GBR/Astana Qazakstan) at 6″
5- Nikias Arndt (GER/Bahrain Victorious) at 7″
6- Remco Evenepoel (BEL/Soudal-Quick Step) at 8″
7- Pello Bilbao (ESP/Bahrain Victorious) at 8″
8- Olav Kooij (PBS/Jumbo-Visma) at 10″
9- Phil Bauhaus (GER/Bahrain Victorious) at 10″
10- Cees Bol (PBS/Astana Qazaqstan) at 10″
…
Fr
Don’t miss interesting posts on Famousbio
