McNulty wins UAE Tour time trial

American Brandon McNulty powered to victory in the second-stage time trial at the UAE Tour on Tuesday to take the overall lead.
His UAE Team Emirates teammate Jay Vine was just two seconds slower in second place, with Mikkel Bjerg rounding off a clean sweep of the podium for the home team.
McNulty’s win helped him take Monday’s first-stage winner Tim Merlier’s spot at the top of the overall standings, with Vine now 2secs back in second.
UAE team leader Adam Yates, the 2020 winner, was 28secs slower in 16th place in windy conditions at Hudayriyat Island.
“The wind certainly affected the race,” said McNulty.
“We decided to go among the first starters and it paid off.”
Merlier had predicted a fight for the opening stage due to the quality of the field.
“It’s my first win of the season so I’m very happy,” said the 31-year-old who has previously won stages at the Giro d’Italia and the Tour de France.
“I made the decision to ride round from the side because I was blocked. I saw (Fernando) Gaviria (Team UAE) go. I could see the finish line so I went for it,” said the broadly smiling Belgian at the finish line.
Contrary to the weather forecast, there were no cross winds in the finale and very little sand on the road during the 141km opening run through the dunes.
Of the field of top sprinters at the seven-stage event, which includes four flat stages, two climbs and one time trial, British veteran Mark Cavendish and Dutch fast-man Dylan Groenewegen were caught behind the fall while Elia Viviani fell hard.
Today’s third of seven stages is a 176km ride from Al Marjan Island to Jebel Jais.