Belgian Remco Evenepoel’s Soudal Quick Step won the team time trial of the second stage on UAE Tour disputed over a 17.3 km route starting and finishing in Port Khalifa, in which the Australian managed to put on the leader’s jersey Luke Plappfrom Ineos, whose team was classified third.
A demonstration of the team of the world champion and the sprinter Tim Merlier who managed to prevail rolling in a total time of 18.17 minutes, at an average of 56.7 km/hour. The Belgian squad beat EF Education by 1 second and Ineos by 3, while Pello Bilbao’s Bahrain qualified by 4 seconds. Movistar gave the sand in 16th place, 35 seconds behind the winner.
In the general classification, the Australian Luke Plapp donned the red jersey of the leader (Melbourne, 22 years old), double national champion, but with the same time as Evenepoel, who is already taking positions to win the race. Pello Bilbao remains fourth, 4 seconds behind the world champion.
The time trial was launched by the UAE, a team that suffered the disappointment of seeing its leader, adam yates, get off the hook in the first stage. The Emirati team scored 18.33 and finally was eighth, far from the best. The arrival of EF Education at 18.18 already made the situation serious for the victory, a record that Ineos could not overcome, which counted as a favorite. they lacked only 2 seconds.
The end was exciting with Soudal de Evenepoel and Bahrain Bilbao in action. LThe rainbow team surpassed the Basque cyclist’s squad in 10 seconds at the halfway point. There was a reaction from Bahrain, but it was not possible to improve on fourth place. The final stretch of the Soudal was supersonic and he could with everyone.
This Wednesday the third stage will be held between Umbrella Beach Al Fujairah and Jebel Jais, 185 km. Appointment with the mountains, where the favorites will face each other in the final climb to the finish line of 19 km at 5.6 percent.