"I forced my Tour selection with my performances" - Tim Merlier on sharing leadership duties with Remco Evenepoel at the Tour de France

Tim Merlier starts his 2025 season today at the AlUla Tour with serious chances of taking his first win in Saudi Arabia, but this time around he can already think long-term towards the Tour de France. The Belgian spoke and believes that he earned his participation after a brilliant 2024 season.

"I think I forced my Tour selection with my performances, the way I achieved that makes me very happy," Merlier told In de Leiderstrui. "During the course presentation, Patrick Lefevere already played on my role in the Tour and that has now been confirmed. I am convinced that I can be an added value, also in the stages that are for Remco". Merlier won the European Championships last season, alongside three Giro d'ttalia wins, four other World Tour wins - and a total of 16 pro wins on the road.

Hence, the Tour is now at play for Soudal - Quick-Step. "There will be tough days, but on the other hand, Remco will also be more easily kept at the front in the last kilometers for his classification by my train. That is an advantage in all respects. From my side, my relationship with Remco is very good. I've heard before that we wouldn't be a good match, but we went to America together in the winter and I heard in Remco's explanation about the Tour that I would play a role. That did reassure me. We get along well".

Soudal - Quick-Step will have a double-pronged approach, with Merlier being the prime stage hunter and potential green jersey contender, although the likes of Jasper Philipse, Jonathan Milan and Biniam Girmay will be tough competitors. But this won't discourage him. "I proved in 2024 that I'm getting better and we are convinced that this growth will not stop in the coming years. In the past, I often trained a bit too much and listened less to my own feelings. That's why I got problems with my knee, among other things. Now I believe in what I do".

"It's not necessarily an hour more that makes the difference, you have to feel what you can handle and how you feel," he continues. "That's how you get to know your body and that led to progress, also compared to guys who train more. Finding the right balance, in order to win races".

However, he will of course race a lot during the spring and will continue to chase victories throughout the year, to add to his palmarès and also increase his confidence. "The focus for myself is on the sprint classics. I have confidence in those types of races, although I know who my competitors will be in races like Gent-Wevelgem and Paris-Roubaix. It is not self-evident to just participate in such a race. The pieces of the puzzle have to fall into place for me. I have already shown in Gent-Wevelgem that I can be there, but the puzzle did not fall into place yet. That makes winning such races difficult, but I continue to believe in it.'