Soudal - Quick-Step confirm support team for Remco Evenepoel at Tour de Suisse; Tim Merlier chases stage wins

Soudal - Quick-Step have confirmed their lineup for the Tour de Suisse. Remco Evenepoel is confirmed as the headliner and one of the race's main figures, as he races for the first time since abandoning the Giro d'Italia with Covid-19.

The World Champion should be a contender for the overall classification, however last year he used the race as preparation for the summer and finished just outside the Top10. In either ways he has the support of James Knox and Mattia Cattaneo for the several mountain stages, however the duo may also be chasing stage wins.

The other side of the team will be focused in stage wins specifically. Tim Merlier comes in as one of the race's leading sprinters and will be a prime candidate to take a win, bringing in his leadout man Bert van Lerberghe alongside. Kasper Asgreen and Mauro Schmid complete the lineup, both contenders for wins in the many hilly days the race presents - with Asgreen and Evenepoel also to feature in the time-trials.

“We have Remco back on the team and we are looking forward to it. The two individual time trials suit him, but also guys like Kasper, Mauro and Mattia can do something nice on those stages," team DS Geert van Bondt said in a press release. "As Remco returns after illness, we’ll just take it day by day and see what he can do in the mountains, where he’ll also have James to help him, in addition to the other guys. For the flat stages, our man is Tim, who can count on Bert to guide him, so we’re confident in our chances of getting some good results."

Soudal - Quick-Step for Tour de Suisse:

Remco Evenepoel, Kasper Asgreen, Mattia Cattaneo, James Knox, Tim Merlier, Mauro Schmid and Bert van Lerberghe.