Successful Merlier’s words no longer fall on deaf ears: "When I heard Remco’s Tour plan…"

A year ago, Tim Merlier was vying for a spot in the Tour de France lineup, but it didn’t materialize. Soudal-Quick Step placed all its focus on Remco Evenepoel, leaving Merlier to watch from the sidelines, his career stuck at just one Tour participation. Despite his remarkable success. Now, in 2025, the world’s most successful sprinter has earned his place alongside the team’s star rider.

Merlier didn’t let the setback define his 2024 season. He started with three stage wins in the UAE Tour and didn’t stop until his 14th victory of the year at Binche-Chimay-Binche. Along the way, he racked up three Giro stage wins, a Scheldeprijs victory, and his European Championship title on Belgian home soil, where he beat the world’s best sprinters. As a reward, he secured a contract extension through 2028.

"I think I earned my Tour spot with my performances, and the way I did it makes me very happy," said the usually more reserved Merlier with visible confidence. As former Belgian national coach Sven Vanthourenhout couldn’t overlook him for the European Championships — allowing both Merlier and Jasper Philipsen to sprint — Soudal-Quick Step now couldn’t justify leaving the in-form rider out of their 2025 Tour plans.

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Tim Merlier in his European Championship jersey

Merlier knew what was up after the Tour de France route presentation

Despite his stellar 2024 season, the Tour de France wasn’t a focus for Merlier in the following months. He took things in stride after his successful year. "During the Tour route presentation, Patrick Lefevere hinted at my role, and now it’s confirmed. I’m convinced I can add value, even in stages that are for Remco," Merlier said, repeating a sentiment he had expressed in 2024 — though last year, his words fell on deaf ears.

In the 2025 Tour de France, where sprinters have a shot at both stage victory and the yellow jersey on day one, Merlier’s voice is finally being heard. "There will be some tough days, but vice versa, my lead-out train will make it easier to position Remco near the front in the final kilometers for his GC. It’s an advantage in every sense."

At Soudal-Quick Step, Evenepoel’s approval also carries weight — and that box has been ticked. "From my side, my relationship with Remco is great. I’ve heard rumors that we wouldn’t be a good match, but we went to America together this winter, and when I heard Remco's Tour plan, I could already tell I’d have a role to play. That reassured me. We click well."

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Evenepoel and Merlier, Tour buddies to be

Merlier doesn’t train an extra hour — and that’s exactly why he’s so good

Merlier kicked off his 2025 season with a commanding stage win at the AlUla Tour after a smooth winter preparation. "My winter went well. I got sick twice, like last year, but that was limited to mild colds and stomach issues. Everything seems to be on track," he said with a knowing smile before adding seriously, "I proved in 2024 that I’m getting better, and we’re confident that progress will continue in the coming years."

What’s the key to his improvement? "In the past, I often overtrained and ignored how I was really feeling. As a result, I had knee issues and things like that. Now I believe in what I'm doing. It’s not necessarily an extra hour of training that makes the difference. You have to sense how much you can handle and how you feel. That’s how you get to know your body, and that helped me make progress, even compared to guys who train more. It’s all about finding the right balance to win races."

In 2025, Merlier hopes to replicate or even surpass his 2024 results, particularly in one-day races. "The focus for myself is on the sprint classics. I’m confident in those races, though I know the competition I’ll face in Gent-Wevelgem and Paris-Roubaix. It’s not a given to compete at the front in those events. The puzzle pieces have to fall together for me. In Gent-Wevelgem, I’ve already shown that I can be in contention, but the pieces didn’t fall into place that day. That’s what makes winning these races so difficult, but I keep believing in it."

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