Tim Merlier sprints to Gooikse Pijl victory
Belgian beats Jordi Meeus and Olav Kooij in bunch sprint finish
Tim Merlier (Soudal-QuickStep) scored his 16th win of the 2024 season at Gooikse Pijl, prevailing in the bunch sprint finish at the end of the 195.8km race.
The Belgian, who also has three Giro d'Italia stages and the European road title on his season palmarès, pipped Jordi Meeus (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) in a photo finish on the line. Further back, Olav Kooij (Visma-Lease A Bike) rounded out the podium just ahead of Dylan Groenewegen (Jayco-AlUla).
The triumph marks Merlier's 50th career victory and is also his third in a row following wins at the European Championships road race and the Kampioenschap van Vlaanderen.
A bunch sprint finish was always going to be likely with so many teams bringing sprinters to the race and thus having a combined interest in dragging back the breakaway. The catch was made 8km from the line after hard work from teams including Lotto-Dstny and Soudal-QuickStep.
Rain and nerves meant that the sprint and team trains were far from organised, leaving the final something of a free-for-all among the top sprinters. Through the chaos, Merlier emerged at the head of the pack with Kooij, Meeus and Groenewegen further back.
While the two Dutchmen couldn't make their way alongside and past Merlier, it looked as though a late burst from Meeus might have denied the QuickStep man another win. However, the photo finish showed that he had in fact held off Meeus and taken the glory in Gooik
Results
Results powered by FirstCycling
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!

Dani Ostanek is Senior News Writer at Cyclingnews, having joined in 2017 as a freelance contributor, later being hired full-time. Her favourite races include Strade Bianche, the Tour de France Femmes, Paris-Roubaix, and Tro-Bro Léon.
Latest on Cyclingnews
-
'A free mind equals fast legs' – How my mental state helped me wear the yellow jersey for two days at an unforgettable Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
In Luke Tuckwell's latest column for Cyclingnews, he recalls his memorable week in France, and how he went from tears in training to his first yellow jersey -
Tour de France prize money explained: What is at stake for the 2026 edition?
Over €2.5 million in prize money up for grabs this July, and plenty of ways to earn a slice of it -
American Criterium Cup: New Zealand riders sweep elite races at Downer Classic in Wisconsin and hold off series leaders in tight sprints
Bryony Botha and George Jackson win second stop of ACC and score titles across 11-day regional racing calendar at Tour of America's Dairyland -
Giant overhauls gravel range with two new bikes and a suite of gravel components
Just when we thought the gravel releases were over for the year, Giant has released a slew of new gravel products



