Tim Merlier forced to delay 2026 season due to knee injury suffered in December - "Fully connecting with the rest of the team isn’t possible yet"

Tim Merlier is one of the strongest sprinters in the current peloton and alongside Jonathan Milan, he was supposed to headline a great sprinter battle at the AlUla Tour. However that is no longer the plan, as the Soudal - Quick-Step rider suffered a knee injury last month and is still on his way back into form.

The Belgian, winner of 16 races last year - including stages 1 and 3 of the Saudi race - proved to be incredibly successful in his pursuit of success in the fast finishes. As Soudal - Quick-Step said goodbye to Remco Evenepoel, the 33-year old becomes perhaps the most important figure in the team, with a Tour de France return virtually guaranteed for next summer. But the plan to start his season in Saudi Arabia is no longer going to come together.

“The AlUla Tour is out of the question," Merlier confirmed to Sporza at Soudal - Quick-Step's media day. "I will only start my season when I feel ready and when the coaches agree. That’s when we will set a date. We’ll see how it evolves. It’s too early to say where I’ll start now.”

This happened after a cyclocross event that he took part in early December. Ultimately, the pain forced him to take some time off the bike and also prevented him from taking part in cyclocross races during the Christmas block where he was initially scheduled to be in. He is now healed, but behind schedule.

“It went away with rest. It’s not easy, being here on a training camp in Spain. Fully connecting with the rest of the team isn’t possible yet.” Hence it is not possible to access yet where the Belgian will start his season, but his main goals should not change. “What do I hope for? To be in top form for the Classics period". There, he should be racing the Ronde van Brugge, Middelkerke-Wevelgem, Scheldeprijs and Paris-Roubaix.