Tim Merlier secures second stage win in four days at UAE Tour

Tim Mercier celebrated his second win in the UAE Tour by taking victory in the Dubai stage on Thursday.

The Soudal Quick-Step’s Belgian rider took the lead with just over 100 metres to go, winning the sprint to the line ahead of Arvid De Kleijn and Olav Kooij, after the 168-kilometre stretch from Dubai Police Officers Club to Dubai Harbour.

The top three spots in general classification (GC) remain unchanged with UAE Team Emirates’ Jay Vine keeping the leader's red jersey for the second successive day.

“It would be nice to win all four flat stages but the other sprinters will make it hard for me,” Mercier said at the post-race press conference.

“But I already won two stages here. I’m looking forward to more but it’s not easy. My teammate Ilan Van Wilder crashed but I avoided it.

“My teammates put me in a good spot. It looks like the train is on the rails. Because the wind was coming from the left side, I saw Olav [Kooij] going and luckily, I found my way and from there, it was straight forward to the line.

“We rode yesterday for Ilan and we show every day that we are a very strong team. Bert Van Lerberghe and I have known each other since we were 12 years old. It’s a nice story. Last year we came together in this team. I’m happy to have a good lead-out man.”

A crash three kilometres out from the finish saw a handful of riders go down in the middle of the bunch, including most of the Bora-Hansgrohe train which scuppered Sam Welsford's chances, but most of the sprinters and their lead-outs made it safely to the finish.

“It was not easy. Maybe it looks like it, but sprinting is never easy,” added Mercier.

“I will try to win again, but it won’t be easy, so I’m just going to try. The train is on the rails as we say in the