Tim Merlier reacts to victory, crash and Pogacar breakaway at UAE Tour: "For those who had to set the pace it must have been very hard"
Cycling
European Champion Tim Merlier certainly had an eventful day at the UAE Tour, but as he is known for, the chaotic finales usually suit the Soudal - Quick-Step rider. Merlier beat Jonathan Milan in the crash-marred sprint, and then crashed himself after the finish line.
"We discussed with the team yesterday what went wrong. Today we did really well," the Belgian said in a post-race interview. "They put me in a really good position in the last kilometer and a half. I was on Milan's wheel, and then that crash was behind us. I hear that my lead-out was there, so I hope he's okay. I waited for my moment, and at the right moment I started my sprint. I'm very happy".
Merlier managed to avoid the absolute chaos that happened behind him in the final 4 kilometers, with two mass crashes taking out almost the entire field from stage contention. He took advantage of Lidl-Trek's forced early leadout to then outsprint Milan in the final meters of the stage.
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But even a sprint wasn't assured on a seemingly innocent day, as Tadej Pogacar was part of a strong 11-man breakaway that marked the day. "If you are in a good position, it is not bad to ride on such a course. The day was not made easy. Some riders were very motivated to impose a hard stage. It was a hard pace, all day. But for us in the peloton it was not bad; for those who had to set the pace it must have been very hard
But as he has for several years, he's won again at the UAE Tour and takes the weight off his shoulders. "I am always happy to come here. I love this country, but so do Saudi and Oman, it is nice to ride these kinds of races, and I am happy to take a victory here this season".
After the stage, he crashed, after colliding with a staff member. However after taking the win, the fall seemed to be nothing but a minor inconvenience. "I think I'm okay," he chuckled, giving away that at least no injuries should come from the incident.
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Tim Merlier powers to the stage win after a chaotic finish... then takes a tumble after the finish line 😳💥#UAETour pic.twitter.com/oxsCrVt5Ry
— Eurosport (@eurosport) February 21, 2025

Rúben SilvaEditor-in-Chief
A founding contributor to CyclingUpToDate since its launch in January 2022, Ruben Silva has played a central role in shaping the site’s editorial direction and long-term growth. Before joining the project, he built his experience through independent blogging at Echelons Hub and by producing race previews for Ciclismo Internacional, developing a strong analytical voice rooted in daily engagement with professional cycling.
Beyond editorial work, he has been closely involved in the expansion and coordination of CyclingUpToDate’s wider network, helping establish and support sister platforms across multiple languages. This includes ongoing collaboration with CiclismoAlDia (Spanish), CiclismoAtual (Portuguese), WielrennenUpToDate (Dutch), and RadsportAktuell (German), contributing to a shared editorial vision and consistent international coverage.
He also helps oversee editorial governance across the network, setting standards for accuracy and consistency and coordinating updates or corrections when needed.
Originally from the Porto metropolitan area in Portugal, he holds a bachelor’s degree in Geography. His path into cycling journalism was shaped not through formal media training, but through independent reporting, community engagement, and sustained on-the-ground involvement in the sport.
Over the course of his career, he has conducted approximately 100 interviews across road cycling and cyclocross, ranging from one-to-one conversations and online formats to press conferences and on-site pre- and post-race coverage. His interviews include leading riders, team managers, and prominent figures within cycling media: Tadej Pogacar, Jonas Vingegaard, Mathieu van der Poel, Primoz Roglic, Wout van Aert, Joao Almeida and Tom Pidcock; managers like Patrick Lefevere and Joxean Matxin; and YouTube personality Bryan Kennedy (BKXC)...
Within 18 months of launch, he helped grow CyclingUpToDate’s English-language platform into one of the most-read cycling news websites, built entirely from the ground up. As both a professional journalist and lifelong cycling enthusiast, his focus remains on delivering accurate, timely, and well-contextualized coverage.
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