Latest news with #TimMerlier
Yahoo
30-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Pedersen wins third Gent-Wevelgem after 56km solo break
(L-R) Belgian secondplaced Tim Merlier of Soudal Quick-Step, Danish winner Mads Pedersen of Lidl-Trek and Italian third placed Jonathan Milan of Lidl-Trek celebrate on the podium after the men's 250.3 km from Ieper to Wevelgem at the Gent-Wevelgem cycling classic. Jasper Jacobs/Belga/dpa Former world champion Mads Pedersen triumphed at the Gent-Wevelgem cycling classic with one of the longest solo rides in the race's history on Sunday. The Dane secured his third victory in the event, following wins in 2020 and 2024, after a 56-kilometre breakaway. Advertisement Pedersen completed the 250.3km race with a 52-second lead over Belgian European champion Tim Merlier and Italy's Jonathan Milan. Tadej Pogacar, the three-time Tour de France winner, and rival Mathieu van der Poel skipped the race to focus on the next spring classic, the Tour of Flanders, next Sunday. Pedersen, who has already won stages in all three Grand Tours, secured the 50th professional victory of his career. Given current form, the 29-year-old is considered a strong contender for the cobblestone Paris-Roubaix classic in two weeks. Danish cyclist Mads Pedersen of Lidl-Trek celebrates on the podium after winning the men's 250.3 km from Ieper to Wevelgem at the Gent-Wevelgem cycling classic. David Pintens/Belga/dpa


Dubai Eye
22-02-2025
- Sport
- Dubai Eye
Tim Merlier wins stage 6, claims second victory of UAE Tour
Tim Merlier claimed his second win of the 2025 UAE Tour after securing the lead in stage 6 on Saturday. The Belgian cyclist of Soudal Quick-Step blasted through to hit the front and claim a dominant win as the rest of the sprinters picked up the scraps behind him. Tadej Pogacar of UAE Team Emirates - XRG still holds the overall lead. The seventh and final stage of the race is set to take place at Jebel Hafeet in Al Ain on Sunday. What a sprint that was from Merlier 🏆 The Soudal Quick-Step rider launched early and surprised his rivals to win Stage 6 at the UAE Tour with a huge gap back to 2nd place. 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐮𝐥𝐭: 1. Merlier 2. Philipsen, s.t 3. Milan, s.t 📸 Sprint Cycling _____________ 🇦🇪 #UAETour — Velon CC (@VelonCC) February 22, 2025


The National
22-02-2025
- Sport
- The National
Tim Merlier shines again as Tadej Pogacar retains UAE Tour overall lead
Tim Merlier completed back-to-back victories by taking the penultimate stage 6 victory in the UAE Tour at the Abu Dhabi Breakwater on Tuesday. The Soudal-QuickStep rider came around the two sprint trains to go clear of Jasper Philipsen and double stage winner Jonathan Milan to secure his seventh UAE Tour stage win. The finish came after a variety of sprint teams fought to control the closing stages in the 165km route from Abu Dhabi Cycling Club to the Breakwater. 'I was in the washing machine, like they say. I found a gap at 300 metres to go and tried to surprise the others. The headwind was a really long effort, so I'm suffering,' Merlier said after the finish. 'It was really difficult to organise. Also, my lead-out crashed yesterday so maybe it wasn't a good idea to do real work today. But we tried what we could. We lost each other at 1.9km to go. 'I was boxed in, boxed in, boxed in all the time. I thought I wasn't going to make it, but I found a gap with 300m to go and then just gave it a try and it was enough. 'Every opportunity is an important one. I'm just happy with the win again.' Tadej Pogacar, the UAE Team Emirates-XRG rider, finished safely in the peloton to retain his 21-second lead over Joshua Starling of Ineos Grenadiers ahead of the final 171km stage in Al Ain, from the Hazza bin Zayed Stadium to the summit of Jebel Hafeet. 'Today was a lot of people in Abu Dhabi, so it was really amazing to see them. So, thanks to everybody,' the Slovenian world champion said. 'I was feeling very good cycling through the city, without the traffic, just racing and people cheering on the side of the road, seeing the beautiful buildings and yeah, it's something special. 'I cannot describe how beautiful it is to ride through the city of Abu Dhabi. I wish more people will come to cheer us in Al Ain tomorrow.' Pogacar finished safely in the peloton but admitted it felt like going through formalities. 'I think all of the bunch was pretty bored today at some point for sure. And that's also cycling,' he said. 'I count down the seconds or kilometres to finish and try to speak to somebody and just more or less counting down or watching around. It was cool to ride through the city but there was so many cat eyes and these little bumps in the road, so you still had to be a little bit focused.' Pogacar holds the overall lead in the UAE Tour for the 14th time. 'I mean, it's a home race for the team, so it's an honour that I can race here and that I can always be in good shape, always fighting for the victory. And, yeah, it's good colour, red jersey, and I like it,' the three-time Tour de France winner added. Stage 6 results 1. Tim Merlier (Soudal Quick-Step) 3hrs 44min 14sec. 2. Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Deceuninck) s.t. 3. Jonathan Milan (Lidl-Trek) s.t. General classification 1. Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates – XRG) 2. Joshua Tarling (Ineos Grenadiers) at 21″ 3. Ivan Romeo (Movistar Team) at 27″


ARN News Center
22-02-2025
- Sport
- ARN News Center
Tim Merlier wins stage 5 of UAE Tour
Belgian sprinter Tim Merlier (Soudal Quick-Step) has won the UAE Tour's stage 5, ahead of Italian riders Matteo Malucelli (XDS Astana Team) and Jonathan Milan (Lidl-Trek). The 160 km race, which started from the American University in Dubai, finished opposite the Hamdan Bin Mohammed Smart University. Crashes split the peloton at the start of the final kilometre, creating a chaotic finish. Tadej Pogacar retains the Red Jersey of the race as he leads the General Classification. The UAE Team Emirates – XRG rider opted for an unconventional strategy, spending more than 100 km of the flat 160 km stage in a breakaway. Pogacar, the overall leader, picked up bonuses on the intermediate sprints, gaining 21 seconds over second-placed Josh Tarling. 🚴💨 NEW RECORD ALERT! 💨🚴 Today's stage was blistering! 🔥 The peloton smashed the UAE Tour road stage speed record, clocking in at 48.751 kph! 🚀 That's faster than the previous record (46.771 kph) set on the Al Mirfa stage in 2021 by Mathieu Van der Poel. History made. — UAE Tour Official (@uae_tour) February 21, 2025


Sharjah 24
21-02-2025
- Sport
- Sharjah 24
Tim Merlier wins fifth stage of the UAE Tour
Tim Merlier wins fifth stage of the UAE Tour Sharjah 24: Belgian Tim Merlier, European champion, claimed victory in the fifth stage of the UAE Tour held in Dubai, marking his sixth win in the event's history. Merlier, riding for Soudal Quick Step, completed the 160 km race in 3 hours, 16 minutes, and 55 seconds, edging out Italians Matteo Malucelli and Jonathan Milan. Record-breaking performance The stage saw a new record set for the average speed of 48.751 km/h, surpassing the previous record from the 2021 Al Dhafra stage. The stage was marked by an exciting race, with Tadej Pogacar breaking away from the main group, gaining points and seconds in the process, though the main group eventually closed the gap. Key standings after stage 5 Pogacar increased his lead in the overall standings to 21 seconds ahead of British rider Joshua Tarling. Jonathan Milan retained the green jersey for the points classification, while Joshua Tarling kept the white jersey for the best young rider. The winners were crowned by key figures from the UAE sports community.