Tim Merlier evens the score with Jonathan Milan and puts his signature on the sixth stage of the UAE Tour, the Abu Dhabi Cycling Club - Abu Dhabi Breakwater of 165 km. And it was a victory... by a significant margin because the European champion started from behind at double speed and surprised his rivals who had no time and space to react. Second place for Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin Deceuninck) and third for Jonathan Milan (Lidl Trek) with Walscheid and Jakobsen in their wake. First WorldTour top ten for the young sprinter Daniel Skerl of Bahrain Victorious and ninth place for Enrico Zanoncello of VF Group Bardiani CSF Faiané.

For Merlier, this is the seventh stage win at the UAE Tour, a race that apparently suits him particularly well to the point that immediately after the stage he already said that... he will return.

In the general classification, Tadej Pogacar obviously remains in command, on the eve of the decisive stage, which will finish at Jebel Hafeet tomorrow.

THE RACE. Ready, go, and here are the usual suspects launching the attack: in the breakaway are Djordje Djuric, Carlos Samudio and Kristian Sbaragli from Team Solution Tech - Vini Fantini and Manuele Tarozzi from VF Group Bardiani CSF Faiané. Samudio and Tarozzi were the last to be caught by the group about 4 km from the finish.

It should be noted that this morning Groenewegen (Jayco AlUla), Langellotti (Ineos Grenadiers), Lars Craps (Lotto) and Fernando Gaviria (Movistar) did not start.

FINISH ORDER

1. Merlier Tim (Soudal Quick-Step) in 03:44:14
2. Philipsen Jasper (Alpecin-Deceuninck)
3. Milan Jonathan (Lidl-Trek)
4. Walscheid Max (Team Jayco-AlUla)
5. Jakobsen Fabio (Team Picnic PostNL)
6. Rajovic Dusan (Solution Tech-Vini Fantini)
7. Skerl Daniel (Bahrain Victorious)
8. van Poppel Danny (Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe)
9. Zanoncello Enrico (VF Group-Bardiani CSF-Faizan)
10. Welsford Sam (Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe)