Tim Merlier devoted his opening stage win in the Tour of Oman on Saturday to his new child.
“This was the only pure sprint so I’m happy, I couldn’t be happier in fact, I’ve been a father less than two weeks and now I can celebrate that with this win,” stated the 30-year-old on his first highway race with new staff Soudal Quick-Step.
Mark Cavendish was making his personal debut with Astana however got here twenty first, sitting up when getting caught in the pack after failing to get entangled in the ultimate bunch dash.
David Dekker of Arkea-Samsic was second and Axel Zingle of Cofidis took third after an extended sprint for the road.
Merlier, a stage winner on the 2021 Tour de France, clinched the win with a ultimate flurry over the closing 200m, which had been barely uphill after a 147km run from Al Rustaq Fort to Muscat.
“In the sprint, I went a bit too early, but I had what it took to keep the speed, and this gives me a lot of confidence for the future,” stated Merlier, who took his profession win tally to 24.
Sunday’s second stage ends with a 2km seven p.c gradient climb after a 174km run from Muscat-Quarayyat, with three extra levels all ending with climbs.
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