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Tim Merlier (Soudal-QuickStep) beat Caleb Ewan (Lotto-Dstny) by the tightest of margins to win to stage 1 of the UAE Tour, whereas his teammate Remco Evenepoel stole an early march on his GC rivals on a gap day of racing blown aside by crosswinds and echelons.
Ewan initially thought he had claimed the dash from the 13-man break, however the photo-finish picture advised a lifeless warmth. After prolonged deliberation, nevertheless, the UCI commissaires finally gave the decision to Merlier.
Mark Cavendish (Astana-Qazaqstan) took third forward of Olav Kooij (Jumbo-Visma).
Crosswinds sparked assaults and echelons all stage after which the decisive transfer took form with 29 km to go, with Soudal-QuickStep and Lotto-Dstny serving to to power the decisive, choose echelon.
Evenepoel discovered allies of circumstance within the group, together with Luke Plapp (Ineos Grenadiers) and Pello Bilbao, who had three Bahrain Victorious teammates for firm.
Their mixed efforts noticed the break enter the ultimate 20 km with 40 seconds in hand on the chasers, and they’d lengthen that result in 51 seconds by the end.
The mix of crosswinds and crashes splintered the peloton into echelons within the opening kilometres of the stage, with Evenepoel at all times current and proper on the head of affairs.
When the entrance two teams finally merged with 50km to go, the depth lastly relented. With the primary physique of the peloton inching nearer, it appeared as if the day may but finish with a mass dash.
As a substitute, simply because it appeared the race was about to be stitched again collectively, a brand new echelon cut up it open over again. Whereas the strongmen in entrance pressed on, there was hesitation among the many chasers and the hole opened irretrievably.
It was a most disappointing afternoon for UAE Group Emirates of their house race. With Tadej Pogacar preferring to start out his season in Spain, new signings Adam Yates and Jay Vine line out as leaders however they each conceded nearly a minute to the favorite Evenepoel.
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