"I am very proud to finish this season with a victory for Specialized" - Tim Merlier gives a special farewell to Soudal's bike supplier
Cycling
Tim Merlier was once again in a league of his own on the final race day of the season. Despite a difficult position, the Belgian speedster surged past Dylan Groenewegen towards his 14th victory of 2026. Part of his celebration at the finish line, Merlier kindly tapped his bicycle, as if to say goodbye - Specialized will not be Soudal - Quick-Step's (known as Soudal Safety Jogger next year) bike supplier anymore.
To Merlier, the bond to his bicycle was especially dear as it kept him company through the past four seasons during which time he had claimed multiple great victories.
"I think it is my 80th professional victory. I don't know how many I have achieved on a Specialized (57), but since I started riding this brand of bikes, I have achieved many victories," Merlier said after the finish.
That four-year period featured 23 World Tour victories, including five stage wins at Tour de France, three at Giro d'Italia, and a 2023 European title.
Merida to replace Specialized in 2027
Although nothing's been made official yet at this point in time, the word is out in the peloton that Specialized will end its 15 years long parternship with the Belgian outfit. The two parties joined forces in 2012, and have enjoyed incredible success over that period.
But since 2017, Specialized also stood behind Peter Sagan success at BORA - hansgrohe. And even though the Slovakian star has long left the structure, the current Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe project has earned Specialized's main focus. Alongside its very successful mountain bike factory team.
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As for Soudal Safety Jogger, its riders should be seen sporting Merida bicycles from 2027 onwards. The Taiwan-based company has its own rich history in road cycling, having previously made a name for itself a title co-sponsor of Lampre-Merida and Bahrain-Merida over the second half of previous decade. But since it parted ways with the Bahraini team at the end of previous season, it's models have disappeared from the professional peloton. 2027 should then be a comeback year.
For Soudal's riders, it's in any case a farewell and they'll be tasked to adapt to new equipment over the course of next winter. "I am very proud that I can also finish this season with a victory for Specialized," Merlier concluded.
Ondrej ZhasilCycling Journalist
Ondřej Zhasil is a cycling journalist at CyclingUpToDate and has been part of the team since 2023. He is based in Ostrava, the third-largest city in the Czech Republic, and covers professional cycling across the main UCI competitions, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España. A key focus of his work is startlist analysis and pre-race coverage, where he examines team selections, rider line-ups, and tactical scenarios ahead of major events.
Alongside WorldTour coverage, Ondřej has developed specific expertise in junior cycling and in racing across East Asia, including competitions in China and Japan. He also maintains a broad working knowledge of other disciplines and levels, including cyclocross, while continuing to expand his understanding of mountain bike racing.
Ondřej holds a bachelor’s degree in Mathematics and Physics, which supports his analytical, data-driven approach to performance and race analysis. In his reporting, he regularly uses ProCyclingStats for results, statistics, and historical context. He places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available.
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