"I don't expect any more echelons" - Remco Evenepoel looking forward to calm days at UAE Tour lead

Remco Evenepoel has taken over the lead of the UAE Tour on Jebel Hafeet, and today he's enjoyed his first day in the red jersey. A calm one, Evenepoel expects to keep the GC as it is until the queen stage.

"We wanted to win with Tim Merlier, but it is clear that as a race director I will not take too many risks in the sprint preparation," Evenepoel said after arriving at the finish safely in the peloton. "I followed Tim's wheel up to two kilometers from the finish, but then it got a bit too hectic for me and I decided to drop back a bit."

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Unlike stage 1, the urban riding of today's course benefited those that wanted a conservative and calm day, as the wind was not as strong. Soudal - Quick-Step still aimed for another win with the possible means, but Tim Merlier could not find his way through the final sprint and could only ride to 9th on the day. 

"I wanted to follow Tim and the other lead-out men, because I know they maneuver themselves very well through the peloton. In the end it was a hectic sprint on these wide roads, so it didn't work out. Anyway, we tried," Evenepoel briefly mentions.

The upcoming days should see similar forecast today, with Evenepoel aware of the situation: "The wind is not strong enough and it is expected to be the same in the coming days, so I don't expect any more echelons. I hope I can get through it just fine, so that I can also save the necessary energy for Sunday."

There he will have to defend his lead at Jebel Hafeet, with Luke Plapp and Pello Bilbao being the closest contenders to him in the overall classification. "In between, we hope to take another stage victory with Tim," he concluded.