Tim Merlier claims Belgian road race title

The 224km-long flat course for the Belgian men's road race championship resulted in what was to be expected - a bunch sprint - and Tim Merlier (Corendon-Circus) claimed victory ahead of Timothy Dupont (Wanty-Groupe Gobert) and Wout Van Aert (Jumbo-Visma).

"In the sprint the team was able to deliver me in a perfect position," Merlier told Sporza in the post-race flash interview.

"I started my sprint from the wheel of [Edward] Theuns but when I launched my sprint I panicked a little and kept my legs still for a moment. Then I told myself to lean forward and I was able to hold it until the line. It’s unbelievable."

Only two weeks ago, Merlier was signed by Corendon-Circus to race on the road this summer. In cyclo-cross, he is racing for the Pauwels Sauzen-Vastgoedservice team. Last week, the 26-year-old already showed off his fast legs with a surprise sprint victory over Fabio Jakobsen (Deceuninck-Quick-Step) in the Elfstedenronde.

Once again, a cyclo-cross rider turns out to be a top-class road cyclist. Merlier was asked the obvious question if he would focus on cyclo-cross or road.

"I was asked the question already a billion times and I’ll hear it a billion more times. Now I’ll just enjoy this win and take in that I’ll wear this jersey for a whole year. Then we will see," Merlier said.

The first part of the 224km long course included a triple passage over famous stretches of pavé near Zottegem: Lange Munte, Paddestraat and Lippenhovestraat. It was flat-out racing on the cobbles and the peloton split into several pieces.

"I was quite alright," Merlier explained. "Early on during the pavé loops I was riding near the front when we were away with about 40 riders. That was an ideal scenario. I wasn’t losing strength there while some favourites were running into trouble, like [Sep] Vanmarcke, Theuns and a QuickStep rider who crashed. I thought to myself ‘Oh, maybe I should start to believe in my chances," Merlier said.

After two hours of racing, on the final passage of the cobbles, Remco Evenepoel (Deceuninck-QuickStep) and Dries De Bondt (Corendon-Circus) attacked. They were quickly joined by Lotto-Soudal riders Stan Dewulf and Jelle Wallays. The four leaders carved out a lead of 2:30 when reaching the finish for the first time, still having seven laps of the 15km finishing circuit to cover.

The peloton controlled the breakaway and slowly brought the gap back down to one minute with three laps to go. At 33km from the finish, on one of the few bridges on the flat course, Evenepoel accelerated. His move cost Stan Dewulf his spot up front. From that point on, De Bondt and Wallays skipped more turns than Evenepoel wanted and the gap continued to come down. At 20km from the finish, Jasper Stuyven (Trek-Segafredo) escaped the peloton while Evenepoel continued to put his companions, Stuyven and the peloton under pressure.

When hitting the final lap and final 15km, the trio in front was 15s ahead of Stuyven and 25s ahead of the stretched-out peloton. At 11km from the finish, the leaders were caught back. Stijn Steels (Roompot-Charles) attacked after an acceleration from Jens Keukeleire (Lotto-Soudal) was neutralized. His solo effort was over at 7km from the finish.

Wanty-Groupe Gobert took command of the peloton in the final kilometres, later being joined by Corendon-Circus, and Tim Merlier perfectly timed his sprint to win ahead of Dupont, Wout van Aert and Philippe Gilbert.

Full results

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#Rider Name (Country) TeamResult
1Tim Merlier (Bel) Pauwels Sauzen-Vastgoedservice Continental Team4:59:12
2Timothy Dupont (Bel) Wanty-Gobert Cycling TeamRow 1 - Cell 2
3Wout Van Aert (Bel) Team Jumbo-VismaRow 2 - Cell 2
4Philippe Gilbert (Bel) Deceuninck-QuickStepRow 3 - Cell 2
5Jasper De Buyst (Bel) Lotto SoudalRow 4 - Cell 2
6Edward Theuns (Bel) Trek-SegafredoRow 5 - Cell 2
7Michaël Van Staeyen (Bel) Roompot-CharlesRow 6 - Cell 2
8Kenneth Van Rooy (Bel) Sport Vlaanderen-BaloiseRow 7 - Cell 2
9Jasper Philipsen (Bel) UAE Team EmiratesRow 8 - Cell 2
10Yves Lampaert (Bel) Deceuninck-QuickStepRow 9 - Cell 2
11Amaury Capiot (Bel) Sport Vlaanderen-Baloise0:00:02
12Jens Adams (Bel) Pauwels Sauzen-Vastgoedservice Continental TeamRow 11 - Cell 2
13Lionel Taminiaux (Bel) Wallonie BruxellesRow 12 - Cell 2
14Bert Van Lerberghe (Bel) Cofidis, Solutions CreditsRow 13 - Cell 2
15Tom Van Asbroeck (Bel) Israel Cycling AcademyRow 14 - Cell 2
16Jens Debusschere (Bel) Team Katusha AlpecinRow 15 - Cell 2
17Bert De Backer (Bel) Vital Concept-B&B HotelsRow 16 - Cell 2
18Greg Van Avermaet (Bel) CCC TeamRow 17 - Cell 2
19Tiesj Benoot (Bel) Lotto SoudalRow 18 - Cell 2
20Enzo Wouters (Bel) Lotto SoudalRow 19 - Cell 2
21Dennis Coenen (Bel) CibelRow 20 - Cell 2
22Oliver Naesen (Bel) AG2R La MondialeRow 21 - Cell 2
23Jasper Stuyven (Bel) Trek-Segafredo0:00:08
24Milan Menten (Bel) Sport Vlaanderen-BaloiseRow 23 - Cell 2
25Glenn Debruyne (Bel) CibelRow 24 - Cell 2
26Julien Vermote (Bel) Team Dimension DataRow 25 - Cell 2
27Laurens De Vreese (Bel) Astana Pro TeamRow 26 - Cell 2
28Jurgen Roelandts (Bel) Movistar TeamRow 27 - Cell 2
29Jan Bakelants (Bel) Team SunwebRow 28 - Cell 2
30Jim Aernouts (Bel) Telenet Fidea LionsRow 29 - Cell 2
31Jonas Van Genechten (Bel) Vital Concept-B&B HotelsRow 30 - Cell 2
32Maxime Vantomme (Bel) Tarteletto-IsorexRow 31 - Cell 2
33Kevyn Ista (Bel) Wallonie BruxellesRow 32 - Cell 2
34Thimo Willems (Bel) Sport Vlaanderen-BaloiseRow 33 - Cell 2
35Mathias De Witte (Bel) Roompot-CharlesRow 34 - Cell 2
36Bjorg Lambrecht (Bel) Lotto SoudalRow 35 - Cell 2
37Baptiste Planckaert (Bel) Wallonie BruxellesRow 36 - Cell 2
38Jacob Relaes (Bel) CibelRow 37 - Cell 2
39Michiel Stockman (Bel) Tarteletto-IsorexRow 38 - Cell 2
40Abram Stockman (Bel) Tarteletto-IsorexRow 39 - Cell 2
41Aaron Verwilst (Bel) Sport Vlaanderen-BaloiseRow 40 - Cell 2
42Dylan Teuns (Bel) Bahrain-MeridaRow 41 - Cell 2
43Jens Keukeleire (Bel) Lotto SoudalRow 42 - Cell 2
44Zico Waeytens (Bel) Cofidis, Solutions CreditsRow 43 - Cell 2
45Dries Van Gestel (Bel) Sport Vlaanderen-BaloiseRow 44 - Cell 2
46Jonas Rickaert (Bel) Corendon-Circus0:00:15
47Daan Hoeyberghs (Bel) Beat Cycling Club0:00:17
48Boris Vallee (Bel) Wanty-Gobert Cycling TeamRow 47 - Cell 2
49Quinten Hermans (Bel) Telenet Fidea LionsRow 48 - Cell 2
50Nikolas Maes (Bel) Lotto SoudalRow 49 - Cell 2
51Mathias Van Gompel (Bel) Sport Vlaanderen-Baloise0:00:21
52David Boucher (Bel) Tarteletto-Isorex0:00:23
53Dimitri Peyskens (Bel) Wallonie BruxellesRow 52 - Cell 2
54Sep Vanmarcke (Bel) Ef Education FirstRow 53 - Cell 2
55Thijs Aerts (Bel) Telenet Fidea LionsRow 54 - Cell 2
56Jenthe Biermans (Bel) Team Katusha AlpecinRow 55 - Cell 2
57Jordi Warlop (Bel) Sport Vlaanderen-Baloise0:00:28
58Toon Aerts (Bel) Telenet Fidea Lions0:00:31
59Roy Jans (Bel) Corendon-CircusRow 58 - Cell 2
60Michiel Dieleman (Bel) CibelRow 59 - Cell 2
61Otto Vergaerde (Bel) Corendon-Circus0:00:35
62Jimmy Janssens (Bel) Corendon-CircusRow 61 - Cell 2
63Loïc Vliegen (Bel) Wanty-Gobert Cycling TeamRow 62 - Cell 2
64Jordi Van Dingenen (Bel) Tarteletto-IsorexRow 63 - Cell 2
65Thomas Joseph (Bel) Tarteletto-Isorex0:00:38
66Piet Allegaert (Bel) Sport Vlaanderen-BaloiseRow 65 - Cell 2
67Jelle Donders (Bel) Team Dauner | Akkon0:00:41
68Stijn Devolder (Bel) Corendon-Circus0:00:43
69Stijn De Bock (Bel) Canyon DHB p/b Bloor HomesRow 68 - Cell 2
70Thomas De Gendt (Bel) Lotto SoudalRow 69 - Cell 2
71Xandro Meurisse (Bel) Wanty-Gobert Cycling TeamRow 70 - Cell 2
72Stijn Vandenbergh (Bel) AG2R La MondialeRow 71 - Cell 2
73Guillaume Van Keirsbulck (Bel) CCC TeamRow 72 - Cell 2
74Nathan Van Hooydonck (Bel) CCC TeamRow 73 - Cell 2
75Thomas Sprengers (Bel) Sport Vlaanderen-BaloiseRow 74 - Cell 2
76Jerome Baugnies (Bel) Wanty-Gobert Cycling Team0:00:46
77Tosh Van Der Sande (Bel) Lotto Soudal0:00:48
78Tim Wellens (Bel) Lotto SoudalRow 77 - Cell 2
79Remy Mertz (Bel) Lotto SoudalRow 78 - Cell 2
80Kris Boeckmans (Bel) Vital Concept-B&B HotelsRow 79 - Cell 2
81Harm Vanhoucke (Bel) Lotto SoudalRow 80 - Cell 2
82Pieter Vanspeybrouck (Bel) Wanty-Gobert Cycling TeamRow 81 - Cell 2
83Maarten Wynants (Bel) Team Jumbo-VismaRow 82 - Cell 2
84Remco Evenepoel (Bel) Deceuninck-QuickStep0:00:53
85Laurens De Plus (Bel) Team Jumbo-Visma0:01:03
86Dries Devenyns (Bel) Deceuninck-QuickStepRow 85 - Cell 2
87Kenneth Vanbilsen (Bel) Cofidis, Solutions CreditsRow 86 - Cell 2
88Dimitri Claeys (Bel) Cofidis, Solutions CreditsRow 87 - Cell 2
89Iljo Keisse (Bel) Deceuninck-QuickStepRow 88 - Cell 2
90Nicolas Cleppe (Bel) Telenet Fidea LionsRow 89 - Cell 2
91Michael Vanthourenhout (Bel) Pauwels Sauzen-BingoalRow 90 - Cell 2
92Niels De Rooze (Bel) Tarteletto-IsorexRow 91 - Cell 2
93Stijn Steels (Bel) Roompot-Charles0:01:09
94Gijs Van Hoecke (Bel) CCC Team0:01:17
95Gianni Vermeersch (Bel) Corendon-CircusRow 94 - Cell 2
96Joeri Stallaert (Bel) Corendon-CircusRow 95 - Cell 2
97Tom Devriendt (Bel) Wanty-Gobert Cycling Team0:01:43
98Aime De Gendt (Bel) Wanty-Gobert Cycling TeamRow 97 - Cell 2
99Edward Planckaert (Bel) Sport Vlaanderen-Baloise0:01:48
100Robbe Ghys (Bel) Sport Vlaanderen-BaloiseRow 99 - Cell 2
101Ludovic Robeet (Bel) Wallonie Bruxelles0:02:18
102Jelle Wallays (Bel) Lotto SoudalRow 101 - Cell 2
103Kevin Van Melsen (Bel) Wanty-Gobert Cycling Team0:03:09
104Dries De Bondt (Bel) Corendon-Circus0:03:14
105Tom Dernies (Bel) Natura4Ever-Roubaix-Lille Metropole0:03:55
DNFThomas Degand (Bel) Wanty-Gobert Cycling TeamRow 105 - Cell 2
DNFGianni Marchand (Bel) CibelRow 106 - Cell 2
DNFElias Van Breussegem (Bel) Tarteletto-IsorexRow 107 - Cell 2
DNFEliot Lietaer (Bel) Wallonie BruxellesRow 108 - Cell 2
DNFJulien Mortier (Bel) Wallonie BruxellesRow 109 - Cell 2
DNFAlfdan De Decker (Bel) Wanty-Gobert Cycling TeamRow 110 - Cell 2
DNFWim Reynaerts (Bel) CibelRow 111 - Cell 2
DNFTuur Deprez (Bel) CibelRow 112 - Cell 2
DNFLindsay De Vylder (Bel) Sport Vlaanderen-BaloiseRow 113 - Cell 2
DNFDieter Bouvry (Bel) CibelRow 114 - Cell 2
DNFEmiel Planckaert (Bel) Sport Vlaanderen-BaloiseRow 115 - Cell 2
DNFChristophe Noppe (Bel) Sport Vlaanderen-BaloiseRow 116 - Cell 2
DNFJelle Vanendert (Bel) Lotto SoudalRow 117 - Cell 2
DNFJulien Van Den Brande (Bel) Tarteletto-IsorexRow 118 - Cell 2
DNFMaxime Monfort (Bel) Lotto SoudalRow 119 - Cell 2
DNFJeroen Eyskens (Bel) CibelRow 120 - Cell 2
DNFKenny De Ketele (Bel) Sport Vlaanderen-BaloiseRow 121 - Cell 2
DNFFloris De Tier (Bel) Team Jumbo-VismaRow 122 - Cell 2
DNFAlexander Maes (Bel) CibelRow 123 - Cell 2
DNFLudwig De Winter (Bel) Wanty-Gobert Cycling TeamRow 124 - Cell 2
DNFCedric Raymackers (Bel) CibelRow 125 - Cell 2
DNFBart De Clercq (Bel) Wanty-Gobert Cycling TeamRow 126 - Cell 2
DNFAlexander Cools (Bel) CibelRow 127 - Cell 2
DNFJelle Cant (Bel) Tarteletto-IsorexRow 128 - Cell 2
DNFFrederik Backaert (Bel) Wanty-Gobert Cycling TeamRow 129 - Cell 2
DNFJelle Mannaerts (Bel) Tarteletto-IsorexRow 130 - Cell 2
DNFYorben Van Tichelt (Bel)Row 131 - Cell 2
DNFDiether Sweeck (Bel) Pauwels Sauzen-Vastgoedservice Continental TeamRow 132 - Cell 2
DNFLaurent Evrard (Bel) Meridiana Kamen TeamRow 133 - Cell 2
DNFEmiel Vermeulen (Bel) Natura4Ever-Roubaix-Lille MetropoleRow 134 - Cell 2
DNFJonas Goeman (Bel) Tarteletto-IsorexRow 135 - Cell 2
DNFLawrence Naesen (Bel) Lotto SoudalRow 136 - Cell 2
DNFLennert Teugels (Bel) CibelRow 137 - Cell 2
DNFEli Iserbyt (Bel) Pauwels Sauzen-BingoalRow 138 - Cell 2
DNFYannick Peeters (Bel) Pauwels Sauzen-Vastgoedservice Continental TeamRow 139 - Cell 2
DNFDieter Vanthourenhout (Bel) Pauwels Sauzen-BingoalRow 140 - Cell 2
DNFTim Declercq (Bel) Deceuninck-QuickStepRow 141 - Cell 2
DNFBryan Boussaer (Bel) Tarteletto-IsorexRow 142 - Cell 2
DNFVictor Campenaerts (Bel) Lotto SoudalRow 143 - Cell 2
DNFSerge Pauwels (Bel) CCC TeamRow 144 - Cell 2
DNFFrederik Frison (Bel) Lotto SoudalRow 145 - Cell 2
DNFSasha Weemaes (Bel) Sport Vlaanderen-BaloiseRow 146 - Cell 2
DNFBraam Merlier (Bel) Pauwels Sauzen-Vastgoedservice Continental TeamRow 147 - Cell 2
DNFSenne Leysen (Bel) Roompot-CharlesRow 148 - Cell 2
DNFSander Armee (Bel) Lotto SoudalRow 149 - Cell 2
DNFAlex Colman (Bel) Canyon DHB p/b Bloor HomesRow 150 - Cell 2
DNFTimothy Stevens (Bel) CibelRow 151 - Cell 2
DNFPreben Van Hecke (Bel) Sport Vlaanderen-BaloiseRow 152 - Cell 2
DNFLouis Deguide (Bel) Team Differdange GebaRow 153 - Cell 2
DNFThomas Deruette (Bel) Team Differdange GebaRow 154 - Cell 2
DNFJeroen Pattyn (Bel) Team Differdange GebaRow 155 - Cell 2
DNFYves Coolen (Bel) Beat Cycling ClubRow 156 - Cell 2
DNFStan Dewulf (Bel) Lotto SoudalRow 157 - Cell 2
DNFGuillaume Seye (Bel) Beat Cycling ClubRow 158 - Cell 2
DNFLouis Vervaeke (Bel) Team SunwebRow 159 - Cell 2

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