Soudal-Fast Step rider Tim Merlier burst from the center of the peloton to storm previous his rivals and win stage 1 of the UAE Tour in Liwa on Monday.
The ultimate was marred by a high-speed crash, with about twenty riders touchdown exhausting on the asphalt and three-quarters of the peloton falling behind.
The autumn was brought on by a shoulder barge, a few of whose riders had been taken away by ambulance.
Merlier had predicted a battle for the opening stage because of the high quality of the sector.
“It is my first win of the season, so I am very completely satisfied,” mentioned the 31-year-old who beforehand received levels on the Giro d’Italia and the Tour de France.
“I made the choice to detour from the aspect as a result of I used to be blocked. I noticed (Fernando) Gaviria (Staff UAE) going. I might see the end line, so I went for it,” mentioned the broadly smiling Belgian on the end . .
Opposite to the climate forecast, there was no crosswind within the ultimate and there was little or no sand on the highway in the course of the opening stage of 141 km by means of the dunes.
Of the sector of high sprinters on the seven-stage occasion, which incorporates 4 flat levels, two climbs and one time trial, British veteran Mark Cavendish and Dutch fastman Dylan Groenewegen had been left behind, whereas Elia Viviani fell exhausting.
Tuesday’s stage is a person time trial of 12.1 km, held on an atypical course with nearly no bends.
Merlier would be the final man down the slope, whereas Spanish rider Pello Bilbao would be the final of the general title contenders to return down the slope after gaining time within the intermediate dash halfway by means of the race.
Neither 2023 champion Remco Evenepoel nor Staff UAE’s celebrity Tadej Pogacar will compete on this sixth version, leaving Pogacar’s teammate Adam Yates as favourite for the title.
