It is also thanks to Lefevere who played an important role in that Merlier appeared at the start of the
European Championships. "Whether I convinced him is too big a word. Two sprinters do not always ensure a successful operation. But I did think that he had just as many rights as Jasper (Philipsen, ed.). Sven Vanthourenhout came to me to ask. I said to go with Jasper and Tim. Nothing ventured, nothing gained. And it went well. Also thanks to the Italians. They did a lot of work."