Merlier ignores rivalry with Philipsen and thanks lead-out train after flat tire: "Bert knows exactly what to do"

After his first victory in this race, Merlier was satisfied and relaxed in the flash interviews. "Due to some circumstances, I lost the others, a few guys nearly crashed into each other. But I knew where Bert (Van Lerberghe, ed.) would show up. He knows exactly what to do then."

Eventually, Merlier did get into a good position and started his sprint early, a move he made purely on intuition, as he shared afterwards. "I lost track of the markers. I thought: I'm not going to get fooled like in De Panne. I'll just start from far out, and that's also my strength. You're going at 70 or 75 km/h, it goes fast and you stop looking at those markers." His reference to De Panne inevitably brings up the Belgian rivalry with Philipsen, but Merlier wisely kept silent on the matter.

"With the wind, it was hectic at the start. Then you know it's going to be tough and nervous on the narrow roads. After crossing the border, it becomes less so. The local laps were still hectic, I'm just glad I stayed upright. For me, it's just important to be able to sprint and just claim another victory. Then it doesn't matter against whom," he skillfully dodged the question about Philipsen.