The Belgian enjoyed a perfect week in February, cementing his status as one of the peloton’s fastest men, in what was his first World Tour outing of the year.
“The UAE Tour is an important World Tour stage race in the early part of the season and it’s always nice when you get your first win in this type of event, because it helps the pressure go away. I came to the start following a solid display at the Saudi Tour, which brought a lot of confidence for this race, where you usually have all the best sprinters in the world. It’s a good opportunity to find out where you stand coming out of the winter and before returning to Europe for the first appearances there.
At the same time, the UAE Tour is usually a chaotic race when it comes down to the bunch sprints, with wide roads and some roundabouts where things become very hectic in the closing kilometers and you can easily lose your lead-out. The wind on the finishing straight also makes things complicated there, so it’s a question of timing, because you need to jump at the right moment. Winning on the first day, just like last year, made me more relaxed, which was important for the rest of the stages, where I was able to pick up two more victories.
Becoming the first rider to take three wins at a single edition of the UAE Tour made me very proud and happy, it was a performance that showcased the team’s remarkable spirit and mentality. I couldn’t have dreamed of a better race, especially as it brought me the green jersey for the second year in a row. Together with the two stages I won in Saudi Arabia that month made for a great start to my second season with Soudal Quick-Step, which ended up being my finest year since turning pro.”
Photo credit: ©Tim De Waele / Getty Images
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Tim Merlier 