Tim Merlier of Soudal Quick-Step wins dramatic opening stage of UAE Tour 2024

Tim Merlier replicated his 12 feat of months ago by taking the opening stage of the UAE Tour – and a first success of the season in the 2024 WorldTour – on Monday.

The Soudal Quick-Step’s Belgian rider took the chequered flag ahead of Arvid De Kleijn (Tudor Pro Cycling) and Jakub Mareczko (Corratec-Vini Fantini) in a stage marred by a huge crash 200 metres from the finishing line.

Many riders in the peloton were involved in the crash with only 25 of them left to finish in the 143-kilometre stage in Abu Dhabi’s Western region from Al Dhafra Walk to Liwa.

Merlier remained calm amid the chaos. He followed the Colombian pair Juan Sebastián Molano (UAE Team Emirates) and Fernando Gaviria (Movistar) before sprinting clear in the final 100 metres to take the win in three hours 9 minutes and 55 seconds.

“A win is always nice but to get my first WorldTour win of the season is even nicer,” Merlier said.

“I made the right decision to switch side of the road with 500 meters to go, and I made a good decisions there to go alone. At first, I was a bit blocked but Gaviria and Molano went from far out in the headwind.

“I want to win every flat stage of the UAE Tour but it’s not easy because the competition is very high. Almost every top sprinter is here. I’m already happy with one win and it takes the pressure off.”

De Kleijn and Mareczko finished strongly to claim podium spots. Fabio Jakobsen (dsm-firmenich-PostNL) and Sam Welsford (Bora-Hansgrohe) both moved past Gaviria (sixth) and Molano (seventh) but many who were caught in the pile-up would have felt they didn't have a chance for a sprint to the finish.

Mark Cavendish of Astana Qazaqstan managed to avoid the big crash.

“Bert [Van Lerberghe] brought me once again in a good