The Belgian fast man will be in action this weekend in two races.
Tim Merlier will sport the European Champion jersey for the first time at the Kampioenschap van Vlaanderen, less than a week since becoming the first Belgian male rider to win the continental title. Victorious in 14 races this season, the 31-year-old will be Soudal Quick-Step’s leader for Friday’s event, which our team has won five times so far. Merlier will be joined by Ayco Bastiaens, Josef Cerny, Bert Van Lerberghe, Warre Vangheluwe, Jordi Warlop and Senne Hulsmans, the young Belgian who has impressed in the colors of the Devo team this year.
“Koolskamp is a race with a long tradition, a race which usually ends up in a bunch sprint. We can’t wait to see Tim in action in his beautiful new jersey and we’ll try to support him so that he can go for a good result. We have a strong team for this and a lot of confidence, so we’re looking forward to the challenge. We also can’t wait to see Senne Hulsmans in action in what will be his first outing with the World Tour squad”, said sports director Tom Steels.
One day later, Soudal Quick-Step will take on the Super 8 Classic, a hilly 197.6km race comprising more than a dozen climbs, with a team consisting of Julian Alaphilippe – third recently at the Grand Prix Cycliste de Montreal – Gil Gelders, Antoine Huby, Yves Lampaert, Pieter Serry, Ilan Van Wilder and Warre Vangheluwe.
“Super 8 will be a hard race, up-and-down and on narrow and open roads the entire day. Before the finish, the peloton will tackle a hard lap, which Julian knows well from the Worlds he won in Leuven a couple of years ago, so we’ll do our best to be up there with what is a strong and determined squad”, explained sports director Iljo Keisse.
Our Belgian weekend will come to a conclusion on Sunday, at Gooikse Pijl, another one-day race that should suit the sprinters. Soudal Quick-Step’s line-up for this 21st edition will feature Ayco Bastiaens, Josef Cerny, Gil Gelders, former Belgian Champion Yves Lampaert, Tim Merlier, Bert Van Lerberghe and Jordi Warlop.
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