Tim Merlier was again in the mix for our team.
It was another fast and demanding day at the Renewi Tour, which inched closer to the conclusion of this edition. The riders continued their journey, this time traveling between Riemst and Bilzen-Hoeselt, over a 187.3km course containing some short hills that were enough to make a selection before the finish.
Soudal Quick-Step did their best at the front of the peloton, helping with the pace-setting and bringing back the original breakaway. In the finale, one rider jumped clear and looked poised to take the victory, but the small group behind made the catch inside one kilometer to go. Tim Merlier tried to get involved in the fight for victory, and once again gave his best overcoming the steepest part of the uphill drag to the line, but a flat tire ruined his chances of a good result and he concluded outside the top ten.
The race will finish with a stage around Leuven, on a course peppered with 28 classified climbs which are sure to make for an explosive stage, especially as the gaps in the general classification are still small.
Photo credit: ©Luc Claesens / Getty Images
