The 32-year-old Belgian was in a league of his own on Wednesday.
Tim Merlier delivered our team’s eighth victory in Scheldeprijs, after another huge sprint in Schoten, where the 113th edition of the race concluded. The European Champion put a bike length into his opponents, taking a well-deserved success that cemented his status as the world’s best sprinter.
Victorious in 2025 before this race at the AlUla Tour, UAE Tour and Paris-Nice – at each of these taking a pair of stages – and runner-up in Gent-Wevelgem, Tim entered Scheldeprijs as one of the main favourites and didn’t disappoint in the finale, where he combined physical presence, positioning, timing and speed to score his 33rd win in the Soudal Quick-Step jersey.
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The last ten kilometers of the day were hectic and marred by a crash, but Merlier avoided it, together with teammates Bert Van Lerberghe and Jordi Warlop, and the former was once again the one who brought his countryman in a good position from where Tim could stomp his sprinting authority.
“I am happy with this win, because Scheldeprijs was one of my goals this spring, and to take the victory again in front of my family feels special. The team did a great job today, chasing down the breakaway and keeping me protected. I didn’t know there was a crash in the final kilometers, but later I heard about it on the radio. Then, in the closing kilometer, Bert did a strong lead-out and made a sign with his arm so I could find a good spot. I found a space, wasn’t boxed out and could do my sprint just as I wanted. I am glad I could repay the guys with this victory, it’s something that gives us a lot of confidence for Sunday”, said Tim after making it back-to-back victories in Scheldeprijs.
Photo credit: ©Rhode Van Elsen / Getty Images
