After a long evaluation of the finish photo, Tim Merlier has won the first stage of the UAE Tour. A good 15 minutes after the end of the race, the jury declared the Belgian road bike champion the winner ahead of the Australian Caleb Ewan.
With the naked eye, however, it was not possible to see who was in front after 151 kilometers in Al Mirfa. Third went to superstar Mark Cavendish, taking his first podium for his new team Astana. Nikias Arndt took an impressive fifth place, right in front of Phil Bauhaus.
“It was very close at the end. We waited 15 minutes to find the winner. Now I’m glad I won”said Merlier. A small group led by World Champion Remco Evenepoel decided the victory among themselves and probably also brought about a preliminary decision for the overall victory of the seven-day tour of the United Arab Emirates. Evenepoel was already almost a minute ahead of the other favorites.