Merlier outsprints Ackermann and Gaviria for debut World Tour victory at Tirreno-Adriatico

ByPete Sharland

Updated 12/09/2020 at 17:11 GMT

Tim Merlier of Alpecin Fenix beat out big guns Fernando Gaviria and Pascal Ackermann to take his first World Tour stage win whilst in the GC both Geraint Thomas and Simon Yates came through safely.

Tim Merlier of Alpecin Fenix took his debut World Tour win on Saturday afternoon as he triumphed on Stage 6 of Tirreno-Adriatico.

After the peloton came back together for the final kilometres Merlier held his nerve and produced a sensational sprint to knock off some of the big names he was up against.

The Belgian champion started at the wheel of Fernando Gaviria and flew past him and Germany’s Pascal Ackermann to take the win.

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'Absolutely superb!' - Merlier stuns sprint pack to take victory

• Thomas: I didn't throw my toys out of the pram

“I was suffering a lot in the mountains," Merlier said afterwards.

"It wasn’t easy after the crash on the first day. Today it was nice to take the victory and I am happy to take it for the team and for me."

Stage 6 Highlights: Tim Merlier takes first World Tour victory

British duo Simon Yates (Mitchelton-Scott) and Geraint Thomas (Ineos Grenadiers) both came through unscathed and they remain in first and third place respectively in the GC standings.

Tirreno-Adriatico Stage 6 Results

1 Tim Merlier (Bel) Alpecin-Fenix 3:59:30

2 Pascal Ackermann (Ger) Bora-Hansgrohe

3 Magnus Cort Nielsen (Den) EF Pro Cycling

4 Fernando Gaviria Rendon (Col) UAE Team Emirates

5 Mike Teunissen (Ned) Team Jumbo-Visma

6 Davide Ballerini (Ita) Deceuninck-Quickstep

7 Lorrenzo Manzin (Fra) Total Direct Energie

8 Piet Allegaert (Bel) Cofidis

9 Ivan Garcia Cortina (Spa) Bahrain McLaren

10 Alex Aranburu Deba (Spa) Astana Pro Team

Tirreno-Adriatico General Classification Standings

1 Simon Yates (GBr) Mitchelton-Scott 27:36:29

2 Rafal Majka (Pol) Bora-Hansgrohe 0:00:16

3 Geraint Thomas (GBr) Ineos Grenadiers 0:00:39

4 Aleksandr Vlasov (Rus) Astana Pro Team 0:00:49

5 Fausto Masnada (Ita) CCC Team 0:00:54

6 Wilco Kelderman (Ned) Team Sunweb 0:01:00

7 James Knox (GBr) Deceuninck-Quickstep 0:01:21

8 Michael Woods (Can) EF Pro Cycling 0:01:22

9 Gianluca Brambilla (Ita) Trek-Segafredo 0:02:28

10 Jack Haig (Aus) Mitchelton-Scott 0:02:44

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Simon Yates secures overall victory at Tirreno-Adriatico

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Yates beats Thomas to claim overall Tirreno-Adriatico victory

14/09/2020 at 20:47