The final sprint was anything but straightforward, as
Merlier had to navigate a strong headwind and a disrupted lead-out train. "Unfortunately,
there was a strong headwind, so it was very tough," he admitted.
Adding to the difficulties, his lead-out rider was impacted
by crashes from the previous stage, making it even harder to stay organized. "It
was difficult to stay organized in the final. My lead-out was one of the
victims of the crashes yesterday, but he did what he could do today," he
explained.
Merlier found himself in a difficult position with 1.9
kilometers to go, boxed in and seemingly out of contention. "I lost him
with 1.9 kilometers to go and I thought I couldn't win anymore because I was
always boxed in. But like I said, I saw an opportunity with 300 meters to
go," he added.
Despite the chaotic sprint, Merlier made the most of the
moment, capitalizing on a gap and delivering a decisive burst of power to the line. "It
feels like any other chance I take," he said, reflecting on his ability to
seize opportunities in fast finishes.
With this latest success, Merlier now boasts seven stage
wins at the
UAE Tour, a race he clearly thrives in. "I love these kinds of
stage races. Normally I will come back to the UAE Tour next year to try to win
again," he confirmed.