The Belgian continues to remain prominent even after the stage that reshuffled the general classification, which he led for two days.
Soudal Quick-Step finished a team time trial in the top ten for the 49th time in a row, an incredible run that has started in 2013 and has see our squad perform in this discipline regardless of the race – World Championships, Grand Tours or week-long stage races.
Paris-Nice scheduled such a race on Tuesday, when the riders took on a demanding 28.4km TTT held between the famous Circuit Magny-Cours and Nevers, the city founded by the Celts more than 2000 years ago. The last team to leave the start house, Soudal Quick-Step – with yellow jersey Tim Merlier in its ranks – had a good start and gradually increased the tempo, until the point that Maximilian Schachmann and Ilan Van Wilder remained alone at the front with four kilometers to go.
With the time awarded to the first rider or riders of a team to cross the line, the duo worked well together and traded turns at the front as they averaged more than 54km/h, which resulted in a time of 31:17, enough for tenth on the stage won by Visma-Lease a Bike. The two are now our best placed riders in the general classification, while Tim Merlier – the man who won the first two stages of the races – moved into the green jersey, which he will sport on the roads to Las Loges des Gardes, where the race’s first uphill finish awaits.
“We did a good TTT considering it was the first time that these guys rode together. We ended up not far from many of the other teams, while Max and Ilan did a great job in the final kilometers. I think that overall we can be content with this result”, said Soudal Quick-Step sports director Tom Steels.
Photo credit: ©Dario Belingheri / Getty Images
