Tim Merlier sprints to consecutive stage victories at UAE Tour 2025

Photo: WAM

Tim Merlier (Soudal Quick-Step) once again proved why he is one of the fastest sprinters in the world. The Belgian rider powered to victory on Stage 6 of the UAE Tour, winning his second consecutive stage with an explosive sprint in Abu Dhabi. Timing his move to perfection, Merlier surged ahead of his rivals and crossed the finish line with a comfortable lead.

After already winning Stage 5, Merlier showed no signs of slowing down. In the final meters of the race, he outpaced fellow Belgian Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Deceuninck) and Jonathan Milan (Lidl-Trek), who finished second and third, respectively. His impressive back-to-back wins now put him level with Milan, who also has two stage victories in this year’s race.

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"I saw a gap and took my chance," Merlier said after the race. "I wanted to surprise the others, and it worked out perfectly. I’m really happy to win again."

The final stretch of the race was chaotic, with teams battling for the best positions on the wide roads of Abu Dhabi. Merlier, however, remained calm and picked the perfect moment to launch his sprint. Even with strong competitors like Philipsen, Milan, and Fabio Jakobsen in the mix, no one could match his acceleration in the final meters. He powered across the line, clearly ahead of the rest, confirming his status as the in-form sprinter of the race.

Meanwhile, Tadej Pogacar, who is competing for the overall title, had a rather uneventful day. After the race, he admitted that the stage felt boring at times. "I think the whole bunch got a little bored today, but that’s part of cycling," he said. "Riding through the city was cool, but the roads had a lot of bumps and small obstacles, so we still had to stay focused."

With only a few stages left, the UAE Tour is heading into its final stretch. Merlier’s incredible sprinting form has made him a key rider to watch, and fans will be eager to see if he can take another victory before the race concludes.