After lacking out on a Grand Tour look in 2023, Tim Merlier (Soudal-QuickStep) shall be again at one of many huge three-week races in Could for his second Giro d’Italia.
The Belgian’s place on the Giro roster was reportedly confirmed by group boss Patrick Lefevere to Sporza earlier immediately.
Merlier is among the winningest riders thus far in 2024, equal to Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek) and Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-Lease a Bike) after his early-season success of seven victories throughout the AlUla Tour, UAE Tour and Belgian one-day races.
The sprinter was the only saving grace for Soudal-QuickStep in Belgium throughout latest weeks as their struggles continued on the cobbled Classics. Wins at Nokere Koerse and Scheldeprijs have been backed up by second at Basic Brugge de Panne and eighth at gent-Wevelgem, however a crash and DNF at Paris-Roubaix ended his Spring on a bitter observe.
Merlier is ready to be joined initially of the Giro in Venaria Reale by two-time world champion Julian Alaphilippe, who will make his debut on the Italian Grand Tour. A powerful dash practice will be anticipated alongside the star pairing with as much as eight doable dash alternatives on the menu in Could.
He’ll make up a part of a stacked sprinting lineup which is scheduled to incorporate Olav Kooij (Visma-Lease a Bike), Jonathan Milan (Lidl-Trek), Gerben Thijssen (Intermarché-Wanty), Fabio Jakobsen (DSM-Firmenich PostNL), Sam Welsford (Bora-Hansgrohe), Caleb Ewan (Jayco AlUla) and Kaden Groves (Alpecin-Deceuninck).
Historical past is on Merlier’s facet in Italy having received a stage on debut on the race in 2021. It was on the primary street stage of the race and was the Belgian’s first-ever dash alternative at a Grand Tour.
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He deserted the race after stage 10 with fatigue however went on to make his Tour de France debut later that season the place he took a stage win on the third day. Merlier additionally deserted the Tour that season after getting left behind on the street after 9 robust days of racing.
Merlier hasn’t raced a Grand Tour for the reason that Vuelta in 2022, some 18 months in the past, however he’s a way more full rider now and is raring to show himself on the greatest levels races.
The Belgian turns into much more vital for Soudal-QuickStep with Remco Evenepoel’s latest accidents. With the GC star out with a damaged collarbone and scapula, it leaves solely Merlier and Paul Magnier as accessible riders who’ve taken a win for the Belgian squad in 2024.
