Merlier races for Alpecin-Deceuninck for the last time: "I would like to say goodbye to the team in a beautiful way"

Tim Merlier is having his final race with Alpecin-Deceuninck this Sunday at the Memorial Rik van Steenbergen, and he is looking to put behind a disappointing season, attempting to take one final win in Belgium.

“I would like to say goodbye to the team in a beautiful way. So with a victory”, Merlier told reporters ahead of the Belgian semi-classic. “I am closing a nice period of almost three and a half years. With, among other things, two Belgian titles and a stage in both the Giro and the Tour, the most successful period as a professional so far.”

With a move to Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl Team in the coming seasons, the Belgian champion will remain in a national team, however one that has further responsibilities in the peloton. With a two-up sprinter setup however, things will be similar to what he currently has in the Alpecin team.

“I would have liked to have given the team another victory in the Vuelta, but unfortunately it didn't go as planned," he said. Injuries early in the season have seen him out of the Giro d'Italia, and following the national championships he was unable to win again, most noticeably throughout the Vuelta a Espana, but he he's not reached his best level since.

Today's race will however be a final opportunity to win in 2022, as he'll lead the soon-to-be World Tour team in search of a win. "I would be only too happy to end my period with the team with a win in Arendonk (where the race finished)," he added.

He won't have an easy time fighting for that result however, as the Belgian race will feature other World-class sprinters, Dylan Groenewegen and Mark Cavendish are expected at the start.

“The competition is indeed not bad. However, my condition is still very good. I lacked a bit of confidence in recent weeks, so that good form has not yet resulted in a win, but on Sunday I will go for it one last time," he concluded.