Tim Merlier finds his limit at Paris-Roubaix: "I was simply outpaced on the cobbles"

Tim Merlier was hopeful to improve his best result at Paris-Roubaix, but last weekend he clearly met his limit. The European champion tried to hang on with top groups for as long as possible, but ultimately he saw the best ride away while the Belgian arrived onto the Roubaix velodrome as 36th.

"I'm not looking for excuses, because I didn't have any bad luck anywhere. But I just wasn't capable of following the others on the stones. They were riding much too fast for that," Merlier told Het Nieuwsblad afterwards.

"I really have no explanation for the fact that I was simply outpaced on the stones. It is something that should actually suit me. But if they ride too fast, it is too fast. That was already clear to me in the section before the Bos. It is not that I had a bad day. On the contrary. If I look at my values, I am riding a very good race. But I am still not eligible for the prizes."

The European champion was not very confident beforehand. "It is a difficult race. If it is full racing all day long, like in previous years, then you know that the big engines will in principle stand out. Then it is more difficult to go there and say: 'look guys, I am going to show it here too'. Never say never, but I also have to respect logic," he said before the race.

For his team Soudal - Quick-Step it's another disappointing cobbled classic with Yves Lampaert as best finisher in 28th while only three riders from the Belgian formation finished the race.