“It hasn’t been the easiest period…” - Tim Merlier answers doubts with Scheldeprijs success on just his second race day of 2026

Tim Merlier answered questions over his form in emphatic fashion at Scheldeprijs 2026, sprinting to a third consecutive victory in Schoten on just his second race day of the season after a disrupted start to his campaign.

“It hasn’t been the easiest period, and you do start to have doubts: ‘Will I still be able to do it?’” Merlier admitted after the finish, framing the uncertainty that had followed him into the race before delivering the clearest possible response on the road.

Merlier’s path to victory was far from straightforward. He found himself without teammates in the final kilometre, forced to rely entirely on positioning and instinct rather than a structured lead-out. “They crashed, but I managed to avoid it in a phenomenal way. In the final kilometre, I was without teammates, but I was well positioned.”

That positioning proved decisive. As other sprint trains faltered in the aftermath of the crashes, Merlier held his line and waited for the right moment before launching. “Once I launched my sprint, I knew they would have to come from very far to beat me.”

No one could. The Belgian surged clear to take a third consecutive victory in Schoten, underlining once again his dominance in one of cycling’s purest sprinting contests.

Beyond the result itself, this victory carried a deeper significance. It was not just another win in a race that suits him, but confirmation that his form is returning after a difficult period. “This time, there were a lot of question marks and doubts. In training, I was feeling better and better, but in races, I wasn’t having my best days.”

Scheldeprijs provided the answer he had been searching for. “It doesn’t come on demand, but this one means a lot.”

On just his second race day of the 2026 season, Merlier not only returned to winning ways, but did so with a performance that leaves little doubt about his level.