photo credits @ Al Ula Tour
Victorious of two stages on last year’s Al Ula Tour, Tim Merlier started his 2025 campaign in style by conquering the opening stage of the event. As expected on this fairly flat day, the decision was made in a bunched sprint. After 6 riders enjoyed a long breakaway, the peloton bunched up together again once on the final circuit. Belgian specialist Tim Merlier of Soudal-Quickstep powered to the line beating Juan-Sebastian Molano of UAE Team Emirates – XRG and Maikel Zijlaard of Tudor. As well as his stage success, Merlier also conquers the first overall leader’s Green Jersey
118 riders gathered by the old Al Manshiyah train Station for the start of stage 1, a 142-km loop going through some of the picturesque sites of the Al Ula region.
SIX MEN IN THE LEAD
After five kilometers, six riders managed to power away from the bunch. In this entirely Asian breakaway were the following riders: Alexandre Vinokourov (XAT) from Kazakhstan, Al Abdulmunim and Al Kulaif (SAU) from Saudi Arabia, Yamamoto (JCL) from Japan, Rosli (TSG) from Malaysia and Thimachai (ROI) of Thailand. The front six enjoyed a gap of 1’35” at km, which then reached a maximum 2’10” five kilometers later when the sprinter’s teams (Jayco-AlUla, Tudor and Soudal-Quickstep) decided to take on the chase.
KRISTOFF AND DE KLEIJN CRASH
While Masaki Yamamoto was the last escapee to be caught, while the peloton came back together just after the first passage on the line with around fifteen kilometers to go. At the second crossing on the line, the bonus sprint of the day was claimed by Dversnes (Uno X Mobility) ahead of Reinders (Wagner Bazin WB) and Van den Broek (Picnic Post.nl). Under the control of the sprinter’s teams, the pack remained compact until the final moments. With five kilometers to go, a crash saw stage contenders Alexander Kristoff (Uno X Mobility) and Arvid De Kleijn (Tudor) hit the ground.
MERLIER UNTOUCHABLE
No further incidents troubled the pack before the final showdown. Well led out by his Soudal-Quickstep teammates, Tim Merlier launched his sprint from far out never to be overtaken. The Belgian 32-year-old crossed the line victoriously ahead of Colombian Juan-Sebastian Molano and promising Dutchman Maykel Zijlaard (Tudor). Thanks to his first success of the season, the 51st of his career, Tim Merlier, the reigning European Champion captured the overall leader’s Green Jersey. He also leads the points classification while Frank Van Den Broek (Picnic Post.nl) claims the best young rider’s White Jersey. Malaysia’s Rosli takes command of the Most Active Rider classification thanks to the five points he collected on the day.
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