Tim Merlier achieves his second stage in the United Arab Emirates Tour, where Jay Vine remains the leader

Euskaraz irakurri: Tim Merlierrek bigarren garaipena lortu du Arabiar Emirerri Batuetako Tourrean; Vinek leader jarraitzen du

The Belgian cyclist Soudal Quick-Step Tim Merlier ha cattle this Thursday, to the sprint, the fourth stage of the United Arab Emirates Tour 2024. Merlier has surpassed, at the finish, the Dutchman from Tudor Arvid de Kleijn and the also Dutchman from Visma Olav Kooij, second and third in the stage respectively. In this way, with three days left in the race, the Australian runner of the UAE Team Jay Vine continues as leader in the general classificationwhere Pello Bilbao (Bahrain-Victorious) remains fifth, 22 seconds from first place.

Tim Merlier has scored the victory with authority, in this Thursday’s stage, which had a route of 168 kilometers and was held in Dubai. The Soudal sprinter put on a display of strength to claim his second victory in the event, the fourth victory he has achieved this season.

It has been a day of transition, in which the peloton has given itself a truce that has favored the outcome of the sprint. In the final stretch of the stage, Movistar, UAE and DSM tried to get Gaviria, Molano and Jakobsen, respectively, into the lead. Merlier, with patience and looking for his moment, held on to Olav Kooij’s wheel, and was right; When he took off, he was given no choice.

In the general classification, Jay Vine maintains an eleven second lead over the Australian from Decathlon Ag2r Ben O’Connor, and thirteen seconds over the American Brandon McNulty (UAE).

This Friday, the fifth stage will take the peloton from Al Aqah to Umm Al Quwain, with a flat route of 182 kilometers in which there could be another sprint finish.

Fourth stage classification

1 – MERLIER Tim (Soudal) 4:01:47

2 – DE KLEIJN Arvid (Tudor) mt

3 – KOOIJ Olav (Visma) mt

4 – ANIOLKOWSKI Stanislaw (Cofidis) mt

5 – MARECZKO Jakub (Corratec) mt

6 – JAKOBSEN Fabio (DSM) mt

7 – VAN DE PAAR Jarne (Lotto) mt

8 – BAUHAUS Phil (Bahrain) mt

9 – GAVIRIA Fernando (Movistar) mt

10 – KOGUT Oded (Israel) mt

General ranking

1 – VINE Jay (UAE) 11:41:31

2 – O’CONNOR Ben (Decathlon AG2R) + 0:11

3 – MCNULTY Brandon (UAE) + 0:13

4 – VAN WILDER Ilan (Soudal) + 0:21

5 – BILBAO Pello (Bahrain) + 0:22

6 – POOLE Max (Team dsm) + 0:31

7 – FOSS Tobias (INEOS) + 0:33

8 – CARR Simon (EF Education) + 0:36

9 – BJERG Mikkel (UAE) + 0:37

10 – VALTER Attila (Team Visma) + 0:39