Tenth place for Tim Merlier after being boxed in.
Stage two of the Renewi Tour was the flattest stage of the whole race, over a 173.9km course starting in Blankenberge and concluding in Ardooie. There, the riders had to cover five laps of a local circuit where the fight for position ramped up with each kilometer, which made for another nervous finale after the one of Wednesday.
Before that, there were echelons attempts from several teams, but Soudal Quick-Step together with some of the other squads who were interested in a bunch sprint, made sure of keeping things together.
Despite a late mechanical, Bert Van Lerberghe quickly rejoined the peloton and guided Tim Merlier through the field in the last kilometer of the race, but just as this year’s Tour de France triple stage winner was preparing to start his effort, he was boxed in and couldn’t fight for victory in Ardooie, coming home in tenth.
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