Quick-Step confirm signing of Tim Merlier

Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl Team have made moves in the market, confirming today the signing of three riders which will all have important roles in the Belgian team for the years to come. The main one however, is the sprinter Tim Merlier.

“This is a great opportunity for me to be joining Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl. A look through the history of the team shows that they have a tradition of working with sprinters, so I am very happy to be joining them," Merlier said in a press release. "I also get to ride with my best friend again – Bert Van Lerberghe, who will hopefully help me with some lead-outs, and I am looking forward to showing what we can do together".

Merlier was already given as a certainty to join the Belgian team, as Alpecin-Deceuninck moved on with the signing of Kaden Groves in order to replace the spot left by the Belgian champion. Being one of the country's main riders and sprinters, it was a perfect fit with Quick-Step's focus on the fast men. He has signed for three seasons with the team, giving him plenty of time to achieve the ambitious results both expect.

I now have a three-year agreement with the Wolfpack, so I am hoping that will give me some time and stability to progress with my career further," he said, likely not neglecting Cyclocross where he came up the ranks. Alongside him, Casper Pedersen was also signed and is believed to be an important card when it comes to the support for the leadouts for the coming seasons.

"Coming into a new team and environment, there is always something new that I can pick up, be it some advice, a new technique, or some new equipment. Gent-Wevelgem is a race I have always admired and I would like to have it on my palmares, so that will be my first big target of the coming season," he revealed.