🚴🇸🇦 | Tim Merlier pakt zijn tweede! De Belg gaat van ver aan, Bryan Coquard lijkt nog langszij te komen, maar is net te laat! Mooie ontknoping! 🥇👏 📺 Koers kijk je op discovery+
Merlier takes early lead in AlUla Tour and narrowly beats Coquard, securing his second stage victory
CyclingFriday, 02 February 2024 at 13:49
Tim Merlier won the fourth stage of the AlUla Tour on Friday afternoon. The Belgian sprinter was faster than Bryan Coquard and Casper van Uden after a mass sprint. With his second stage win, Merlier also took over the lead in the general classification.
Whereas crosswinds had decisively shaped the race on Thursday, Friday saw calm conditions in the Saudi desert. From a gravel section in Hegra, three riders embarked on the day's breakaway: Spaniard Iker Bonillo (Euskaltel-Euskadi), Cypriot Andreas Miltiadis (Terengganu Cycling Team), and Mongolian Tegsh-bayar Batsaikhan (Roojai Insurance). This setup was ideal for the sprinters' teams, Soudal-Quick Step and Team DSM-Firmenich PostNL, who kept the trio within a manageable distance.
Crash dashes De Kleijn's chances
With around twenty kilometers to go, the Cypriot was still resisting, but nothing could prevent a sprint finish in the city. Tudor Pro Cycling pushed forward for De Kleijn. However, the Swiss team had to abandon their hopes for their first victory of 2024 six kilometers from the finish, when one of their riders unclipped and caused a significant crash. Among the victims were Ivo Oliveira (UAE Team Emirates), Warre Vangheluwe (Soudal-Quick Step), and De Kleijn himself.
Team DSM-Firmenich PostNL took control at the front of the peloton, setting up a strong lead-out for the sprint. Merlier was positioned slightly behind, drafting off his regular lead-out man, Bert van Lerberghe. The pace was exceptionally high, and Merlier started his sprint early. The Belgian quickly gained a significant lead with a few powerful strokes, but his pace slightly dropped towards the end in Maraya, allowing Bryan Coquard of Cofidis to make a strong comeback. At first glance, it was unclear who had won, and even the Frenchman thought he had clinched it, but the replay showed that Merlier was just a tire width faster. Van Uden finished third behind the duo, with Rick Pluimers of Tudor in fourth.
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Latest Comments
- Van Aert is really handsome. He can influence me all day! Ditto for Philipsen. Why do you think many of us love cycling?: to see heroic attempts at climbing mountains at high altitudes or to watch speedsters sprint for the finish line or to watch a human being ride at break neck speed down a tricky descent? No, it's all about their lean physiques and muscular legs. (apologies for objectifying these dedicated and amazing athletes).BarwonHeadsUp25-10-2024
- It is unfortunate that the author can't feel the joy that Pogacar brings to the sport and his fans who are legion and I for one feel lucky to have watched such a memorable performance and historic season From the Strada until yesterday with multiple wins in stages in both tours and beyond dominance in the World's. He is proud to wear the Rainbow stripes, shows his leadership to protect his fellows and is as courteous and sportsman-like as the sport allows. He goes early to not have to respond to each attack as all the rest would make him do it. Any racer who could would do the same. Don't "grow tired" of greatness as it is always fleeting.ccrider13-10-2024
- What load of rubbish. Pog is likely a once in a generation cyclist, the like of which hasn't been seen since 'the Cannibal '. How many people were complaining that Merckx was making racing predictable? I remember this year's World RR as one of the most exciting I've watched. Mainly BECAUSE Pog was the favourite and launched what everyone thought (Pog included) was a suicidal attack with 80km to go. For the next 2 hours, I was on the edge of my seat thinking "this is too much, even for Pog". Maybe Zonnefeld prefers the snooze-fest that is a bunch sprint? Like most people I know, I can't watch two hours of the bunch riding very fast... I wait for the final 5km and watch just the sprint. In any event, most races are won from a sprint or lone break. What difference does it make who makes the lone break? Ultimately, the other contenders will have to figure out a way to beat Pog. Even if that means collaboration between teams. It's going to be an exciting few seasons, until the next Pog arrives on the scene. If this is boring, heaven knows what exciting looks like!Michael513-10-2024
- This is not a gravel race. UCI fail, from the surface they are on to team tactics. In what country was the first "gravel race" in what country is the most popular gravel race? Go with the race model that created the discipline.
Barnes127411-10-2024 - And don't forget he has now won 4 of the big 10 races (Grand tours, Monuments and WC/OG) in one year with a chance to make that 5. (5 has only been done once before)Joostmehrtens05-10-2024