The Wolfpack will look to add to its impressive tally of victories in the next couple of days.
Tim Merlier is back in action with the Soudal Quick-Step team less than a week after taking the spoils on the final day of the Quatre Jours de Dunkerque, a win that made him the most successful sprinter of the season so far, with six victories to his name. The Belgian Champion will lead the squad at the Van Merksteijn Fences Classic (Kortrijk – Zwevegem, 199.4km) and Ronde van Limburg (Hasselt – Tongeren, 203.9km).
Joining him for the appointments of Saturday and Monday will be Jannik Steimle, Bert Van Lerberghe, GP Vermarc victor Stan Van Tricht, as well as three riders of the Soudal Quick-Step Devo Team: Siebe Deweirdt, Andrea Raccagni and Warre Vangheluwe, who won the one-day Youngster Coast Challenge earlier this season.
“Our goal is to be there with Tim in case it comes down to a bunch sprint. On Saturday, this is very likely, despite the up-and-down laps around Zwevegem, while on Monday the race will be a bit more complicated, but the fact that last year it concluded with a mass gallop makes us confident for next week.”
“Tim will have his lead-out man Bert with him, as well as Jannik – who is back to his regular level – and in-form Stan. We are happy to count also on three guys of the Devo team: Siebe, who was runner-up in a sprint just last week, the very fast Andrea and Warre, who we already know from the races he did with us this season. Overall, we are motivated and confident in our chances of scoring some good results”, said sports director Iljo Keisse.
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