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Two in a row for Merlier at UAE Tour / Photo: Giuseppe CACACE - AFP
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Two in a row for Merlier at UAE Tour
Belgian sprinter Tim Merlier came from deep to win a bunch finish on stage six of the UAE Tour at Abu Dhabi Breakwater on Saturday meaning he and the Italian Jonathan Milan both have two stage wins in a race packed with fast men.
Merlier won Friday's stage while Milan won the opener and stage four, and leads the sprint points race with 65pts to Merlier's 56.
Merlier finished just ahead of compatriot Jasper Philipsen in second. Milan was in third after a 176km romp around Abu Dhabi, Khalifa City and Yas Island.
"It might have looked easy but believe me I suffered," said Merlier after his seventh career win in the UAE.
"A kilometre from the line, I didn't think I'd make it, beating lads like Jonathan and Jasper is always important," he said.
Cycling superstar Tadej Pogacar leads the overall standings ahead of Sunday's final mountain stage which culminated with a climb of 10km at steep 8-10 percent gradients.
Racing for the local outfit Team UAE, Pogacar built his lead by finishing close to time-trial winner Josh Tarling on Tuesday and then opening out a lead on Wednesday's hilltop finish.
Pogacar leads Tarling by 21sec in the overall standings with Ivan Romeo third at 27. Finn Fisher-Black and Jay Vine round out the top five.
W.Hansen--BlnAP
