"He's like Wout van Aert... I think he's even a lot faster than Wout" - Tim Merlier's big praise for Quick-Step wonderkid who's set for Grand Tour debut at Giro d'Italia
Cycling
Tim Merlier looks set for a big season in 2025 after Soudal - Quick-Step confirmed the Belgian sprinter is set to share team leadership at the 2025 Tour de France alongside Remco Evenepoel. According to Merlier himself though, a Soudal - Quick-Step wonderkid who's set to make a Grand Tour debut at the coming Giro d'Italia could be the rider to watch.
The rider in question, is 20-year-old Frenchman Paul Magnier, who in his debut season at World Tour level in 2024, added five victories to his palmares, including a stage of the Tour of Oman, three stages of the Tour of Britain and victory at Spanish one-day race Trofeo Ses Salines-Felanitx. "For me, he's a type like Wout van Aert," Merlier praises warmly to Sporza. "A classic rider who's super fast. I think he's even a lot faster than Wout."
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As mentioned, Magnier is set to make a Grand Tour debut in 2025 as part of Soudal - Quick-Step's lineup for the Giro d'Italia, aiming for sprint victories and riding in support of Mikel Landa's quest for the Maglia Rosa in Italy.
For Merlier too, Grand Tour stage victories will be a target in 2025 at the aforementioned Tour de France. "I feel very good here and the trust is mutual," says the European champion, who recently secured a long-term contract extension. "I already said last year that it was possible to go there (the Tour de France) together. We are trying to do that this year and we want to show the outside world that it is possible. I am convinced of that myself. The classification men are still at the front until the final. If I can join my wagon with Bert van Lerberghe and then do my thing, then something is possible. A full train is not necessary for us."
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- OCexile, you sound almost contradictory, "greatness that she is capable of" as if it's a question, when you also list all her accomplishments in just 4 years - that already seems kinda great to me! The question seems to be if she can keep this up, especially with a new team. She's a great rider to watch, that's for sure.RidesHills10-01-2025
- What, you did a survey? Of what the whole peleton?Jumpyjohn10-01-2025
- Just because Remco said that he will fully focus on the Tour it doesn't mean that he'll actually be competitive for the winvappaxbipmv10-01-2025
- Well, there we have it, bar injuries the TdF will be like the musketeers or tennis the last decade, a terrifying trio plus one.Jumpyjohn10-01-2025
- I doubt he and Remco will have much to argue over, they can both do their thing. All things considered, I doubt he’d have gotten a better deal. Maybe he’s the type that likes to stick with what he knows?Mistermaumau10-01-2025
- Whatever your feelings he brought success to the team and made the Belgians proud by succeeding in the classics.alsene10-01-2025
- I don't like him either. Makes sense that they'd give him oval wheels.Veganpotter10-01-2025
- She is the strongest and the strongest don't need no tactics. As soon as the road rises, she comes to the front and drops everybodyabstractengineer10-01-2025
- I feel like he is past his peakabstractengineer10-01-2025
- Its the curse of a French rider on a french teamabstractengineer10-01-2025