Merlier hopes he fits into Tour puzzle Soudal Quick-Step: "Secretly dream of yellow"
Cycling
With a staggering 16 wins, Tim Merlier was statistically the most successful Belgian in the peloton last season. Only Tadej Pogacar had more (25). Yet the award for Flandrien of the Year went to Remco Evenepoel. Merlier now looks at 2025, where the Tour de France is still high on the Belgian list.
At the Gala of the Flandrien in Belgium, the Soudal Quick-Step sprinter already strongly suspected he would not win the award. "It will be hard to win here today," he told Het Nieuwsblad. After his second-place finish, the 32-year-old Belgian addressed the possible plan to take both Evenepoel and Merlier to the Tour. "Whether I'm going to the Tour? I don't know yet. I read in Het Nieuwsblad that they planned to make the puzzle with me. I hope my puzzle piece fits in."
Merlier already won a stage in the 2021 Tour while still riding for Alpecin-Fenix. In the third stage, he ensured a one-two with teammate and compatriot Jasper Philipsen. "I would like to go to the Tour for a second stage win and secretly dream of yellow. I hope Bert Van Lerberghe can join me too; he can also play a role for Remco." The 32-year-old Van Lerberghe is the regular lead-out for his companion Merlier; for example, he was a crucial pawn in his teammate's triple-stage success at the Giro d'Italia.
Read more below the photo.
Lefevere's puzzle: "There are seven flat stages; you can't ignore that"
Patrick Lefevere already told at the presentation of the Tour route that a complex puzzle awaits him. The Tour de France starts with a stage for the sprinters, and so Merlier would be the candidate to win the yellow jersey for his team. "There are seven flat stages; you can't ignore that,' the team boss pointed out. 'It will be a serious puzzle for us, but we must seriously consider taking Merlier."
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Latest Comments
- Well explained, thanks for the clarity! Daniel DantasDanieldantas20-12-2024
- This is the kind of 'news' that belongs in a cheap tabloid. No matter how boring the offseason gets, nobody wants to read this.
santiagobenites19-12-2024 - I wish we could have seen him try. He'd absolutely get dropped before Pogi overtakes his domestiquesVeganpotter10-12-2024
- Talk is cheap! Next year barring crashes with a healthy team... all well be on track! Some need to talk to make a headline!mootman27-11-2024
- I do not see this event listed on HBO Max Sports Online? Can anyone confirm? Thanks!
MrYuck23-11-2024 - It seemed that he was focusing forward at the time of the crash, after seeing a quick video snippet. But one thing I think he should focus on more intently is breaking a bad habit he has, right now. And that is his constant looking over his shoulders. He does that so much, that I am very sure it is not good for him. Simply watch videos of the greats of CX and you will see very little of that constant looking over their shoulders. That is a behavior that betrays a bit of insecurity on his part. He shouldn't be so concerned, incessantly, about what is over his shoulder. He needn't worry they didn't all disappear. He neds to keep his focus more ahead of himself, and he needs to pay a bit more attention to himself, in a confident manner. It is very frustrating to watch, because it is apparent that he has a lot of potential, and is in much better shape thwan many of his competitors, but the mental game needs to be sharpened more, because that part of strategy plays a huge part in the final results
reemmo022-11-2024 - hahahaha love this shit! I didnt even watched the race, but reading all the gossip articles of how stupid this is!Zatoichi19-11-2024
- Van Aert is really handsome. He can influence me all day! Ditto for Philipsen. Why do you think many of us love cycling?: to see heroic attempts at climbing mountains at high altitudes or to watch speedsters sprint for the finish line or to watch a human being ride at break neck speed down a tricky descent? No, it's all about their lean physiques and muscular legs. (apologies for objectifying these dedicated and amazing athletes).BarwonHeadsUp25-10-2024
- It is unfortunate that the author can't feel the joy that Pogacar brings to the sport and his fans who are legion and I for one feel lucky to have watched such a memorable performance and historic season From the Strada until yesterday with multiple wins in stages in both tours and beyond dominance in the World's. He is proud to wear the Rainbow stripes, shows his leadership to protect his fellows and is as courteous and sportsman-like as the sport allows. He goes early to not have to respond to each attack as all the rest would make him do it. Any racer who could would do the same. Don't "grow tired" of greatness as it is always fleeting.ccrider13-10-2024
- What load of rubbish. Pog is likely a once in a generation cyclist, the like of which hasn't been seen since 'the Cannibal '. How many people were complaining that Merckx was making racing predictable? I remember this year's World RR as one of the most exciting I've watched. Mainly BECAUSE Pog was the favourite and launched what everyone thought (Pog included) was a suicidal attack with 80km to go. For the next 2 hours, I was on the edge of my seat thinking "this is too much, even for Pog". Maybe Zonnefeld prefers the snooze-fest that is a bunch sprint? Like most people I know, I can't watch two hours of the bunch riding very fast... I wait for the final 5km and watch just the sprint. In any event, most races are won from a sprint or lone break. What difference does it make who makes the lone break? Ultimately, the other contenders will have to figure out a way to beat Pog. Even if that means collaboration between teams. It's going to be an exciting few seasons, until the next Pog arrives on the scene. If this is boring, heaven knows what exciting looks like!Michael513-10-2024