Baloise Belgium Tour
Stage 3: Turnhout - Scherpenheuvel
Belgium
Friday 14 June 2024
188.3 km
Merlier top five at the Belgium Tour
![Merlier top five at the Belgium Tour](/images/news_article/c_c/800x400/tim-merlier-belgium-tour-stage-3_1718381145.jpg)
Stage 3 of the Belgium Tour was the longest of this edition, and just a couple of kilometers from the start, it saw the peloton pass by the Soudal HQ in Turnhout, where dozens of employees came out to greet the Soudal Quick-Step riders, who waved back at them as they continued their journey to Scherpenheuvel-Zichem, where the day was supposed to end.
On paper, the race was another opportunity for the sprinters, but those hoping to prevent a bunch gallop attacked in waves Friday afternoon, especially in the final 50 kilometers, which featured some short climbs that were perfect for such moves. Soudal Quick-Step controlled the stage, and at one point, our best placed rider in the general classification Kasper Asgreen shut down an attack with around 20 kilometers to go.
In the bunch sprint, Tim found himself in a good position entering the final kilometer, but just as he was preparing to kick out, he found himself boxed in, and despite the incredible speed he showed, the previous stage winner had to settle for fourth place, behind Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Deceuninck). In the overall ranking, both Kasper Asgreen and Josef Cerny are in the top ten ahead of the most important stage of the race.
Photo credit: ©Luc Claessen / Getty Images
Race details
1 |
Jasper Philipsen Alpecin - Deceuninck |
4:06:20 |
2 |
Olav Kooij Team Visma | Lease a Bike |
0:00 |
3 |
Gerben Thijssen Intermarché - Wanty |
0:00 |
4 |
Tim Merlier
Soudal Quick-Step |
0:00 |
5 |
John Degenkolb Team dsm-firmenich PostNL |
0:00 |
6 |
Lionel Taminiaux Lotto Dstny |
0:00 |
7 |
Luca Mozzato |
0:00 |
8 |
Timothy Dupont Tarteletto - Isorex |
0:00 |
9 |
Jasper Stuyven Lidl - Trek |
0:00 |
10 |
Nicklas Amdi Pedersen TDT - Unibet Cycling Team |
0:00 |
56 |
Kasper Asgreen
Soudal Quick-Step |
0:00 |
73 |
Bert Van Lerberghe
Soudal Quick-Step |
0:00 |
89 |
Martin Svrček
Soudal Quick-Step |
0:00 |
90 |
Pepijn Reinderink
Soudal Quick-Step |
0:00 |
129 |
Josef Černý
Soudal Quick-Step |
5:25 |
135 |
Warre Vangheluwe
Soudal Quick-Step |
5:42 |
1 |
Søren Wærenskjold Uno-X Mobility |
8:18:54 |
2 |
Mathias Vacek Lidl - Trek |
0:11 |
3 |
Rune Herregodts Intermarché - Wanty |
0:22 |
4 |
Alec Segaert Lotto Dstny |
0:23 |
5 |
Jasper Stuyven Lidl - Trek |
0:25 |
6 |
Kasper Asgreen
Soudal Quick-Step |
0:26 |
7 |
Alex Aranburu Deba Movistar Team |
0:28 |
8 |
Daan Hoole Lidl - Trek |
0:30 |
9 |
Jasper Philipsen Alpecin - Deceuninck |
0:33 |
10 |
Damien Touzé Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale Team |
0:34 |
19 |
Tim Merlier
Soudal Quick-Step |
0:42 |
32 |
Martin Svrček
Soudal Quick-Step |
0:53 |
63 |
Bert Van Lerberghe
Soudal Quick-Step |
1:16 |
112 |
Pepijn Reinderink
Soudal Quick-Step |
3:17 |
123 |
Josef Černý
Soudal Quick-Step |
5:58 |
142 |
Warre Vangheluwe
Soudal Quick-Step |
8:45 |
1 |
Jasper Philipsen Alpecin - Deceuninck |
55 pt |
2 |
Tim Merlier
Soudal Quick-Step |
49 pt |
3 |
Olav Kooij Team Visma | Lease a Bike |
47 pt |
4 |
Søren Wærenskjold Uno-X Mobility |
33 pt |
5 |
Gerben Thijssen Intermarché - Wanty |
33 pt |
6 |
Lionel Taminiaux Lotto Dstny |
32 pt |
7 |
Jasper Stuyven Lidl - Trek |
19 pt |
8 |
Pierre Barbier Philippe Wagner/Bazin |
19 pt |
9 |
Mathias Vacek Lidl - Trek |
18 pt |
10 |
John Degenkolb Team dsm-firmenich PostNL |
17 pt |
18 |
Kasper Asgreen
Soudal Quick-Step |
10 pt |
23 |
Josef Černý
Soudal Quick-Step |
6 pt |
1 |
Mathias Vacek Lidl - Trek |
8:19:05 |
2 |
Alec Segaert Lotto Dstny |
0:12 |
3 |
Per Strand Hagenes Team Visma | Lease a Bike |
0:23 |
4 |
Iván Romeo Abad Movistar Team |
0:24 |
5 |
Joseph Blackmore Israel - Premier Tech |
0:36 |
6 |
Martin Svrček
Soudal Quick-Step |
0:42 |
7 |
Pierre Gautherat Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale Team |
0:47 |
8 |
Dries De Pooter Intermarché - Wanty |
1:02 |
9 |
Colby Simmons Team Visma | Lease a Bike |
1:04 |
10 |
Kay De Bruyckere Pauwels Sauzen - Bingoal |
1:06 |
18 |
Pepijn Reinderink
Soudal Quick-Step |
3:06 |
1 | Lidl - Trek | 24:57:55 |
2 | Lotto Dstny | 0:26 |
3 | Movistar Team | 0:27 |
4 | Team Visma | Lease a Bike | 0:31 |
5 | Soudal Quick-Step | 0:36 |
6 | Israel - Premier Tech | 1:02 |
7 | Intermarché - Wanty | 1:02 |
8 | Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale Team | 1:07 |
9 | Team Flanders - Baloise | 1:09 |
10 | Alpecin - Deceuninck | 1:18 |