MADRID, 25 Feb. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The Belgian cyclist Tim Merlier (Soudal-Quick Step) has won this Saturday the sixth and penultimate stage of the UAE Tour, disputed between Warner Bros World Abu Dhabi and Abu Dhabi Breakwater over 166 kilometers, while the Belgian Remco Evenepoel (Soudal-Quick Step) Quick Step) has retained the leader’s jersey for one more day.
Merlier is establishing himself as the reference sprinter in this start of 2023 and has become the first rider to repeat victory in the Saudi round, after winning a ‘photo-finish’ final on Monday in the opening stage.
This Saturday, at the arrival at Abu Dhabi Breakwater after a flat course with little wind, the Belgian won more comfortably in the sprint than the Irish Sam Bennett (BORA-hansgrohe) and the Dutch Dylan Groenewegen (Team Jayco AlUla), winner of the fifth stage and that completed the podium of the day.
For his part, Remco Evenepoel (Soudal-Quick Step) retained the leader’s jersey and commands the provisional standings with nine seconds ahead of Australian Lucas Plapp (INEOS Grenadiers) and 13 over Spanish Pello Bilbao (Bahrain-Victorious).
The race will be decided this Sunday with the seventh and final stage, of 153 kilometers starting from the Hazza Bin Zayed Stadium and an eminently flat route and final uphill in Jebel Hafeet.