Tim Merlier left his rivals no chance in the third stage of the AlUla Tour.

With his usual power, the Belgian sprinter from Soudal-Quick Step imposed himself, after the opening stage, also in the third fraction of the Saudi race, leaving behind at the finish line of Tayma Fort Dylan Groenewegen (Jayco-AlUla), Juan Sebastian Molano (UAE Team Emirates) and Matteo Moschetti (Q36.5), his second 4th place in three days after the one already obtained at Al Manshiyah.

THE RACE REPORT. After the withdrawal of Gibbe Staes (UAE Team Emirates), the longest stage of the race immediately sees several riders attempting breakaways. The successful one is signed by Javier Ibanez (Caja-Rural), Yuma Koishi and Masaki Yamamoto (JCL Team Ukyo), Hugo Aznar (Equipo Kern Pharma), Andreas Miltiadis and Kane Richards (Roojai Insurance) and Muhammad Nur Aiman Bin Rosli (Terengganu Cycling Team), who however loses contact on the slopes of the first intermediate sprint, where Reinders wins over Richards and Yamamoto. The attackers then find headwind in the following kilometers, causing their advantage, after reaching 3 minutes, to progressively decrease. They are still six to contest the second intermediate sprint, which, exactly like the previous one, sees Reinders finish ahead of Richards and Yamamoto. The race then briefly ignites turning towards Aradah, a point many had identified as crucial for potential crosswinds. However, realizing that the gusts are not strong enough and that the finish is still 110 kilometers away, the peloton soon slows down, favoring the return of those who had lost ground or been victims of crashes (Daniel Babor from Caja Rural-Seguros RGA) or punctures (Nickolas Zukowski from Q36.5). This allows the breakaway to remain in the lead until the last feed zone, after which the crosswind inflames the group's spirits, successively absorbing the attackers and then breaking the peloton. Apart from Alexander Kristoff (puncture) and Eddie Dunbar, no big fish gets trapped in the back, but despite this, they proceed at high speed, approaching the sprint in a semi-compact formation.

The preparation phases are characterized by Tom Pidcock's puncture in the last kilometer (without time loss consequences) and, especially, the bad crash involving Gorka Sorrarain (Caja Rural-Seguros RGA) and, most notably, Nils Eekhoff (Team PicNic PostNL), who ended up with his head against a pole. Further ahead, the final sprint is launched where, thanks to the usual great work by Bert Van Lerberghe, Tim Merlier (not at his best due to some stomach issues) manages to unleash all his horses and, keeping Groenewegen (2nd and also victim of a puncture in the finale) at bay, brings his personal victories at the AlUla Tour to 4. Behind the first two, Juan Sebastián Molano (another top 3 after Tuesday's) and Matteo Moschetti, with his second fourth place in the sprints so far in Arabia, finish distanced.

EEKHOFF UPDATE. The Dutch rider from Team PicNic PostNL, according to the medical report, suffered a tooth fracture, a chin cut, and a craniofacial trauma in the crash at the end of the third stage. Further radiological examinations will be performed at the hospital.

STAGE RESULT

1. Tim Merlier (BEL/Soudal-Quick Step) - 4:16:24

2. Dylan Groenewegen (NED/Jayco-AlUla) - s.t.

3. Juan Sebastián Molano (COL/UAE Emirates-XRG) - s.t.

4. Matteo Moschetti (ITA/Q36.5) - s.t.

5. Pierre Barbier (FRA/Wagner Bazin WB) - s.t.

6. Marc Brustenga (ESP/Kern Pharma) - s.t.

7. Yevgeniy Fedorov (KAZ/XDS-Astana) - s.t.

8. Florian Dauphin (FRA/TotalEnergies) - s.t.

9. Alberto Bruttomesso (ITA/Bahrain-Victorious) - s.t.

10. Sebastian Kolze (DEN/Tudor Pro Cycling) - s.t.

GENERAL CLASSIFICATION

1. Thomas Pidcock (GBR/Q36.5) - 10:44:49

2. Rainer Kepplinger (AUT/Bahrain-Victorious) at 0:08

3. Alan Hatherly (RSA/Jayco-AlUla) at 0:13

4. Fredrik Dversnes (NOR/Uno-X Mobility) at 0:34

5. Yannis Voisard (SUI/Tudor Pro Cycling) at 0:37

6. Adne Holter (NOR/Uno-X Mobility) at 0:44

7. Frank van den Broek (NED/Picnic-PostNL) at 0:48

8. Calum Johnston (GBR/Caja Rural-RGA) at 0:50

9. Max van der Meulen (NED/Bahrain-Victorious) at 0:50

10. Johannes Kulset (NOR/Uno-X Mobility) at 0:50