Tim Merlier wins in his debut for Soudal-Quick-Step in stage 1 of Tour of Oman

Tim Merlier sprinted for the win again. The Belgian National Champion took advantage of his new teammates of Soudal-Quick-Step lead out to get a secure sprint win in the opening stage of Tour of Oman.

The stage started with a 3 men breakaway, with Jeroen Meijers (Terengganu Polygon Cycling Team) being the last to be caught and becoming the first mountain's classification leader, he was caught within the last 15 kilometres to the finish.

The teams set up a comfortable pace for their sprinters present in the last hill of this stage and all ended in a bunch sprint. And in the last km Mark Cavendish team Astana Qazaqstan Team, took control of the lead out until the last 500 meters where Soudal-Quick-Step managed to get at the front and launch Merlier for the win.

Tim Merlier won ahead of David Dekker (Arkéa-Samsic) who finished second and Axel Zingle (Team Cofidis) who ended in the third place. With this victory Merlier becomes the first leader of this year edition of Tour of Oman.