Tim Merlier won the first stage of the UAE Tour, from Al Dhafra Walk Madinat Zayed to Liwa of 141km.

After an escape by Marco Murgano and Mark Stewart of Team Corratec, caught about twenty kilometers from the finish line, the teams started working on their sprinters.

At the finish line, after a particularly treacherous finish, the Belgian from Soudal Quick Step, who had already won the first stage last year, preceded Arvid De Kleijn from Tudor and Jakub Mareczko from Corratec. Group crash a few meters from the finish line. Merlier is the first leader of the general classification.

Photo Sprint Cycling

Arrival order:

1 MERLIER Tim Soudal - Quick Step 3:09:55

2 DE KLEIJN Arvid Tudor Pro Cycling Team ,,

3 MARECZKO Jakub Team Corratec - Vini Fantini ,,

4 JAKOBSEN Fabio Team dsm-firmenich PostNL ,,

5 WELSFORD Sam BORA - hansgrohe ,,

6 GAVIRIA Fernando Movistar Team ,,

7 MOLANO Juan Sebastián UAE Team Emirates ,,

8 CONSONNI Simone Lidl - Trek ,,

9 BAUHAUS Phil Bahrain - Victorious,,

10 VAN DE PAAR Jarne Lotto Dstny,,