Merlier wins in a chaotic sprint to lead the UAE Tour

In this debate there is mostly consensus: Jasper Philipsen He is the best sprinter in the world today. However, there are two who are already considered the fittest sprinters of the season at this point in the year. One of them, after building a distinguished career in athletics, is growing in leaps and bounds in terms of mass access. The other restores its best version. they are Sam Welsford and Tim Merlier, who are part of this week’s outstanding sprinters list presented by the UAE tour. The winner and the first lead went to the Belgian from Quick-Step, who took his third win of the season (two in the year). AlUla tour) and also the third in his private account in the Emirati round. Fernando Gaviria He was close to making Movistar happy, but he stormed again, as he did so many times last year, and came up empty after taking the lead 50 meters from the finish.

First contact with this second stage race of the World Tour (down under) offered a flat day, 141km, which saw brilliant performances from the sprinters. Of course with nuances. Wind gusts of up to 30km/h could invite fanning, while arrivals in Liwa, with a gradient of 500 meters on average, could cause around 6% excitement. For most of the day the focus was on the team. Corratec, who formed the breakaway group with two of his men: Marco Murgano and Mark Stewart. Thanks to a favorable wind, the runners completed the first hour of racing at an average speed of 49 km/h. Low flight.

Until the solution was found, there was hardly any news and the hunt for the refugees was simmering. What should be highlighted is the figure of Markel Beloki (18 years old), one of the great hopes of Spanish cycling, who defended the team’s colors for the first time after his professional debut at the Mallorca Challenge last January. EF training in a round by stages. With 23km to go, Pello Bilbao made his intentions for this week clear: he came to win. When the peloton completed the last intermediate sprint of the route, he unexpectedly sprinted and secured a bonus second. Low income, but better for than against.

Immediately after, With 20 km to go, Stewart said goodbye as the last survivor of the escape. The teams took positions for the sprint. It’s a shame that there is no ending with a little more spice, but the god Aeolus was benevolent with this favorable wind for the cyclists. The flies It was exactly the opposite. A chaos. Several very dangerous changes of direction resulted in a massive crash at the finish line, with some being very seriously injured and leaving in an ambulance, others barely making it to the finish, such as: Harold Tejada, who finished the stage, was towed on his teammate Gazzoli’s bike. Before them, without noticing all this, Molano left his house, followed by his compatriot Gaviria. It seemed as if the Movistar rider who took the lead was going to raise his arms, but about 50 meters from the finish he ran out of gas. Merlier came from behind to win clearly. This Tuesday, the first decisive stage: 12 km individual time trial for pure specialists.

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