Merlier, Paret-Peintre and a new GC option: Soudal - Quick-Step announce their Tour de France '8'

Soudal - Quick-Step have unveiled their lineup for the upcoming Tour de France. The Belgian team will back up Tim Merlier once again to fight for stage wins but have varied ambitions into the Grand Boucle - although the team is missing Mikel Landa.

The Basque rider will put his focus on the Vuelta a España after suffering a pelvis fracture in a crash during Itzulia Basque Country. However, the team will have a GC card to play in Ilan van Wilder, medalist at last year's time trial World Championships and a stage-racer by nature.

This will be the first time the Belgian takes on such role in a Grand Tour. “Ilan will be our guy for the general classification, but the plan is for him to take it day by day," team DS Tom Steels said in a press release. "We also have guys capable of going in the breakaways, but our main focus will be of course on the sprint stages".

To achieve this, the team will back up Tim Merlier, three-time stage winner at the Tour and a proven card to win sprints this year. His leadout men Bert van Lerberghe and Jasper Stuyven will prove crucial in this role; whilst Pascal Eenkhoorn and Dylan van Baarle should work also on breakaway chasing and breakaway attempts on specific days.

“Tim has as main goal to win a stage, and with the changes that were made in the points classification, he could also get involved in the fight for green," Steels confirms. "Especially as he has a strong team for the bunch sprints".

After the team's success at the Giro d'Italia, where Paul Magnier was the ruler of the fight for the maglia ciclamino, the team could replicate that success with a career-first green jersey for Merlier - who will have the likes of Jasper Philipsen and Mads Pedersen as main rivals.

The lineup is completed by Louis Vervaeke, and lastly last year's winner at Mont Ventoux Valentin Paret-Peintre. The lightweight Frenchman has had a stellar season, and will look to win once again at the Tour, with an eye in the KOM jersey at the same time.

“I’m happy to be back at the start after my successful debut last year and I hope to get another stage victory, but it would be nice to fight also for the polka dot jersey. When possible, I will also try to help the team and give my best so that we can get as many victories as possible".