Is Tim Merlier going to be Quick-Step's best bid for Paris-Roubaix this Sunday? "I’ll give it everything to get the best possible result, but I have to stay realistic"
Cycling
Compared to recent years, Soudal - Quick-Step miss a strong leader heading into Paris-Roubaix. And so the shared leadership between European champion Tim Merlier and Yves Lampaert feels more like a wishful thinking than a realistic bid for a top result.
By those words, we don't mean to take away from Lampaert's past exploits at Paris - Roubaix as the 34-year-old Belgian had even finished on the podium in the past. But that was quite a while ago - in 2019. "My form is good, so I hope I can be there when it counts in Paris-Roubaix. It would be great if I could be part of the finale and make it a strong race," the Belgian concluded.
Alongside Lampaert, recent winner of Scheldeprijs Tim Merlier will also be on the start line for Paris-Roubaix. "Paris-Roubaix is a tough race where a lot comes down to small details. They’re already forecasting rain and wind, so I expect it will be a full day of racing. I think the big engines like Van Aert, Van der Poel, Ganna, and Pedersen have a better shot than I do."
"But never say never," the fast Belgian continued. "There are always scenarios where you can get back into the race and end up in the finale. I’ve never really scored a strong result in Roubaix, so you don’t go into it with massive confidence. But of course I’ll give it everything to get the best possible result, I just have to stay realistic."
We may spot several other interesting names in the selection of Soudal - Quick-Step. Young promises Luke Lamperti and Andrea Raccagni Noviero are both making their debut at Roubaix and since both have a solid engine, the cobbles to suit their taste.
Soudal - Quick-Step for 2025 Paris-Roubaix:
- Tim Merlier
- Ayco Bastiaens
- Yves Lampaert
- Luke Lamperti
- Andrea Raccagni Noviero
- Bert Van Lerberghe
- Jordi Warlop
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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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