Tim Merlier (Soudal-QuickStep) pipped Bryan Coquard (Cofidis) to the road on stage 4 of the AlUla Tour, popping out on high by the width of a wheel rim within the picture end to attain his second win in two days.
The Belgian hit the entrance 300 metres from the road on the uphill end in Maraya, powering previous the DSM-Firmenich PostNL lead out of Casper van Uden after which holding off Coquard within the closing metres because the Frenchman lunged for the road.
Van Uden rounded out the rostrum, although he ceded the chief’s jersey to Merlier, who takes over the lead by 4 seconds heading into stage 5. Coquard lies third general, 14 seconds again, heading into the sprinter-unfriendly closing stage.
DSM had management of the peloton within the closing kilometre with a number of riders main Van Uden to the end.
In the meantime, simply behind the Dutch workforce, Merlier and Coquard had already begun the hostilities as they jostled over stage 1 winner Van Uden’s wheel. However it was Merlier who took the initiative to leap first, pushing previous the Dutchman and instantly placing clear air between him and the remaining.
Coquard had the quickest closing burst to the road, making his manner throughout to Merlier, but it surely wasn’t fairly sufficient to get his wheel in entrance earlier than the end.
“It was a tough train in the long run. I used to be within the pink with 400 metres to go and Bryan let me cross within the wheel. I made a decision to go from far out. I do know I had it within the legs,” Merlier mentioned after the end.
“I do know I can do that lengthy effort. If you happen to don’t attempt, you don’t win however I’m comfortable that it was simply sufficient on the end. Bryan mentioned he gained however I wasn’t certain. I’m comfortable to be on this seat now.
“I feel it was essentially the most worrying stage of the week. I don’t know why as a result of there was much less wind. Ultimately, we made it and solely one in all our riders crashed so I hope he’s OK.
“I’ve a variety of confidence in him. Let’s hope he can present his legs tomorrow,” he concluded, noting that his workforce will trip for William Lecerf’s GC possibilities on stage 5.
The battle for the ultimate dash, the thirty sixth win of Merlier’s profession, was arrange 5km from the end as breakaway survivor Andreas Miltaidis (Terengganu) was caught after spending virtually 100km of the 142km in entrance.
The Cypriot had joined Iker Bonillo (Euskaltel-Euskadi) and Tegsh-bayar Batsaikhan (Roojai Insurance coverage) within the transfer following a really quick opening 45km throughout which a break couldn’t get away.
The trio loved a bonus of 4 minutes at one level, although with dash squads comparable to DSM and QuickStep controlling the peloton and the time hole, the stage was at all times prone to finish with a bunch dash.
Ultimately, Miltaidis went solo 30km from the end, simply after the primary passage by way of the difficult uphill end. His dropped breakmates could be caught 10km later, whereas he persevered properly into the final 10km earlier than being swept up.
All was arrange for a mass dash in Maraya, although Arvid De Kleijn (Tudor) and Juan Sebastián Molano (UAE Workforce Emirates) wouldn’t be concerned after the pair have been amongst a number of riders caught in a serious crash 6.6km out.
Nonetheless, a number of different sprinters, together with stage winners Van Uden, Merlier, and Søren Wærenskjold (Uno-X Mobility) remained within the peloton to contest the ultimate. DSM took on the workload on the entrance, however as soon as once more it was Merlier who got here away with the glory.
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