The Belgian became the first rider to win three stages at a single edition of the World Tour race.
Tim Merlier racked up his fifth victory of the season, an even more impressive number considering it came in just eleven days of racing, and only seven of these concluded in a bunch sprint. The fastest sprinter in the world at the moment, the 31-year-old rider of Soudal Quick-Step was again in a class of his own Saturday afternoon and made up for the disappointment of the previous stage, where he lost the chance of a hat-trick at the UAE Tour by just a couple of centimeters.
Starting and finishing in Abu Dhabi, the penultimate day of the race was a pan-flat one, which meant a bunch sprint was inevitable at the end. The Wolfpack did their homework, and after reeling in the escapees, brought Tim in a perfect position going under the flamme rouge, as things became nervous again. But the experienced Belgian remained cool as a cucumber and waited for the final 200 meters to kick out and produce another hugely impressive sprint.
Merlier’s 15th success at World Tour level helped him mathematically secure the green jersey with one day to go at the UAE Tour, where he now holds an impressive record – most stage wins at the race, five.
“Everything was perfect today and we can all be proud. The team put me where I wanted to be and I just did my sprint. I am happy with my third win here. There are a lot of very good sprinters here, so to take three victories feels great. This week, and this beautiful series of results, are both excellent for the morale before going to Tirreno-Adriatico, my next appointment of the season”, said Tim, who did the Spiderman celebration at the finish in Abu Dhabi to honor a promise he had made to Bert Van Lerberghe’s son after Friday’s stage.
Photo credit: ©Tim De Waele / Getty Images
