"The train is on the rails" - Tim Merlier the dominator of the UAE Tour's sprints

Soudal - Quick-Step are having a tremendous start to the season and it continues as Tim Merlier conquers his second sprint stage of the week. The Belgian rider has won the second out of two bunch sprints raced until now.

"It looks like it but sprinting isn't easy. We found each other really good today, they (Soudal - Quick-Step, ed.) brought me in a good position," Merlier explained in a post-race interview, detailing another chaotic finale. "It was a bit of the same in the last 500 meters, I was waiting to start my sprint, I wanted to go again early but I waited again. I saw Olav [Kooij] on the left side go, I tried to go on his wheel, then I passed him and enough to win again."

A perfectly timed sprint, but above all another big display of raw power. The Belgian once again nailed the sprint to perfection and once again beat Arvid de Kleijn to the line. A result that makes for his fourth win in the space of less than one month. He is also the first rider to win a sprint on two consecutive editions. "It's always nice to make history," he laughs.

However this is not the end of the story, most likely. The two days ahead will be perfect for two more bunch sprints, and Merlier has already cemented himself as the man to beat. "I will try to win again but like I said the first day would be easy, I'm just gonna try again. The train is on the rails, and I'm looking forward to the next two days."