“They looked like pretty tough sprint stages to me”: Tim Merlier remains cautious despite yellow jersey lure on 2027 Tour de France opener
Cycling
Tim Merlier is hoping for another opportunity to claim the first yellow jersey at the Tour de France after missing out on the opening-stage sprint in 2025. The Belgian sprinter believes the 2027 route offers potential opportunities for the fast men, although he expects the race to be tougher than the official classification of seven sprint stages might suggest.
The full route was unveiled in Paris on Thursday, confirming that the 2027 Tour will begin in Edinburgh on July 2 before crossing Scotland, England and Wales. The opening stage, a 184-kilometer journey from Edinburgh to Carlisle, is expected to offer sprinters their first opportunity to win a stage and take the yellow jersey.
Merlier is one of the potential contenders if he is selected for the race by Soudal-Safety Jogger, the name under which Soudal Quick-Step will compete from 2027. However, his participation is not yet certain, with Frenchman Paul Magnier also emerging as an option for the team's sprint ambitions.
“Seven opportunities for the sprinters,” is how the organizers assess the route. Merlier, however, was less convinced by the prospect of a straightforward sprint campaign when discussing the parcours with Sporza in Paris.
“They looked like pretty tough sprint stages to me,” he said with a grin. “I still need to look at the stages again, but if we can sprint four times, that would already be very nice.”
Tim Merlier won stage 12 of the 2026 Tour de France
A difficult opening and another chance after Lille
Merlier expects the overall demands of the race to make sprint opportunities difficult to secure, even on stages that appear relatively flat on paper.
“It looks difficult again,” he said of the route. “Some stages are over 200 kilometers, and those will take their toll. The level is very high, and even a flat stage is extremely difficult.”
The first stage could nevertheless suit the Belgian, with its finish in Carlisle following a largely rolling route south from Edinburgh. The course includes the categorized Côte de Melrose in the Scottish Borders, but the final section into England is relatively flat, making a bunch sprint a realistic possibility.
“The chances are good, but there are 2,000 meters of climbing. That's not nothing,” Merlier said. “A lower total would make the chances greater, but I think it should be possible. In 2025, we got it wrong as a team in Lille, and I'm glad another opportunity is coming.”
The 2025 Tour began in Lille with a sprint finish, but Merlier was unable to turn the opening day into the result he wanted. “As an athlete, you want to put a missed opportunity right, but of course it won't be straightforward,” he added.
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The Belgian's place in the Tour squad is not guaranteed, with the team also able to consider Magnier. The two riders could potentially both be selected, but the team may instead decide to concentrate its support behind one sprinter.
“That could come into consideration, but it's possible the team sees more opportunities for Paul,” Merlier acknowledged. “We get along very well, and if we have to alternate, I can live with that.”
If Merlier does line up at the Tour, he will do so on different equipment. Soudal Quick-Step is ending its long-standing partnership with Specialized and will switch to Merida bikes from the 2027 season, marking a significant technical change for the Belgian team.
“Tests show that Merida has a very fast bike,” Merlier said. “I've ridden a Specialized in recent years, and those were my best years. I came to this team because of that brand. It was a dream to race on that bike, and I hope to remain just as successful. I've already tested it, but that was on the rollers. You can't say that much based on that.”
Félix SernaCycling Journalist
Félix Serna is a writer at CyclingUpToDate and has been part of the team since 2025. He covers professional cycling across both the men’s and women’s calendars, with a focus on UCI rankings, race developments, and rider performance. His work includes interview-based reports, liveblogs, and tournament coverage designed to provide clear, accurate context throughout the season.
In his reporting, Félix regularly uses ProCyclingStats for results, statistics, and historical reference. He places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. He holds a bachelor’s degree in International Studies.
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