Tim Merlier excited to make his gravel debut at European Championships: "I hope to get a nice result but we will see how it works out"

Soudal Quick-Step's Tim Merlier will be on the start of the the inaugural edition of the Gravel European Championships, making his debut on the greatest gravel scene.

"Riding the first edition of the Gravel Europeans brings a lot of motivation. I have a history in cyclo-cross and it makes me excited to take on the gravel, I like trying new things, and the fact that it comes now, towards the end of the season, is perfect. I did a recon of the course and I can say it’s a nice local lap. I hope to get a nice result but we will see how it works out," said Merlier ahead of the 159km race.

Consisting of four local laps in and around the Oud-Heverlee and one big loop towards Brussels of around 48 kilometers, the event will be far from being an easy one, taking in around 1500 vertical meters.