No luck for The Wolfpack in a crazy finale ahead of the Pyrenees.
Tim Merlier delivered our team’s first podium at this year’s edition of the Tour de France, after a chaotic finale at the end of the otherwise quiet stage five, one of the shortest of this race.
Soudal Quick-Step controlled the stage from the very beginning, setting a steady tempo behind the lone breakaway rider of the day and making sure Tim would make it without burning too much energy over the string of small climbs stacked in the last 40 kilometers. A dangerous attack just 25 kilometers from home was countered by Valentin Paret-Peintre, before our team again took the reins in the bunch.
Unfortunately for Merlier’s hopes, a crash in the last five kilometers left him alone in a reduced peloton, without Jasper Stuyven and Bert Van Lerberghe. The 33-year-old Belgian had to surf wheels in the hectic finale of Wednesday’s stage, but even in these conditions he impressed with the way he came from a way long back in the closing 500 meters to take his eighth top-three of the season.
It was crazy fast out there!
After losing both Bert and Jasper, I was alone and had to find a way to get into position for the sprint and still fight for a good result. I thought I had found an opening at one point, but was forced almost immediately to come around and that was that. I hope that in the next stages, luck will be on our side”, Tim explained.
Jasper Stuyven, who was one of the riders involved in the crash, explained what happened: “Bert was pushed to one side, bounced up on the barriers, and from there it was unavoidable, as I got catapulted to the ground. It was really hectic. Everything seems ok for now, but I’m going to go straight to the hotel and get checked.”
Photo credit: ©Tim De Waele / Getty Images
