Soudal-QuickStep have been making ready barely in another way from the opposite WorldTour groups this low season, with riders Tim Merlier, Yves Lampaert and the departing Tim Declercq amongst these competing in a snowy seaside race in Bredene final weekend.
Merlier dramatically gained the race after narrowly avoiding a quadbike going into the ultimate nook. He was compelled to dismount and run along with his bike to the road, solely besting journalist and rider Thijs Zonneveld by the barest of margins.
“I used to be not sure whether or not to throw my bike or simply stick it ahead, and it ended up being the latter,” mentioned Merlier to Sporza. “The end picture confirmed that I gained by 10 hundredths of a second.”
Insane end line footage of Strandrace van Bredene to go with the equally insane end line picture shared by King @thijszonneveld 🤯Re Tim Merlier – “You may take the boy out of CX, however can’t take the CX out of the boy” 🤯#skillz 🎥: https://t.co/GVu3yLhxyn https://t.co/z6AkoXL1Vp pic.twitter.com/3hXIF0maYmDecember 4, 2023
He’ll begin his cyclocross season quickly on the World Cup in Antwerp with an extended concentrate on the 2024 street season and making an attempt to get a spot on the Belgian squad’s Tour de France roster after enjoying second fiddle to Fabio Jakobsen in 2023.
“The goal is at all times to do higher, everybody has their very own ambitions,” mentioned Merlier to Sporza. “For me, that’s successful as many dash races as doable. For Bert [Van Lerberghe] which may be doing as many good lead-outs as doable. For Tim Declercq that’s doing as many good main kilometres as doable.”
Declercq is leaving Soudal-QuickStep for Lidl-Trek in 2024 however was competing in his commerce group’s package for one of many remaining occasions, in a position to chuckle in regards to the far-from-ideal climate situations whereas teammates Remco Evenepoel and Julian Alaphilippe are already in Spain prepared for coaching camp.
“Why are we doing this? We additionally marvel,” laughed Declercq.
“I feel it is simply cool. It is a completely different stimulus that we give to our physique. It is an off-road race and we do not have a lot likelihood to try this,” mentioned Lampaert.
“I might dare to say that that is the sensation of a time trial. A time trial on the restrict, repeatedly. An hour of pumping. Every part you’ve gotten in you.”
That is the second seaside race Merlier has gained in a couple of weeks, doing equally in De Panne, with the group spirit and morale key to competing at these occasions.
“We are able to chat about it for a complete 12 months,” mentioned Merlier. “We’re not paid for it and naturally, a street race is extra necessary than this, however it’s simply enjoyable for morale. For the environment. It’s simply extra enjoyable if in case you have gained right here.”
Merlier was adamant that he may assist the group on the Tour even with their GC ambitions for Remco Evenepoel because of his capability to assist on the off-road gravel stage 9 into Troyes and the way he can fill within the rouleur function on mountain days.
“There’s a troublesome gravel stage 9 on the programme. Bert Van Lerberghe and I’ve all of the qualities to guard Remco properly and information him when it comes to positioning,” he mentioned to RTBF.
“Agreed, there are additionally different riders within the group able to doing this work, however our chief does not solely want climbers. Look how Jumbo-Visma’s rouleurs take the peloton in tow with their prepare, as much as the foot of every mountain.
“I stay satisfied that deciding on me and Bert can be a good suggestion to assist Remco win the Tour.”
