Tim Merlier looks towards the spring after unsuccessful Volta ao Algarve: "We work now for the next races"

Alpecin-Fenix have supported Tim Merlier in his first outing on the road for this season at the Volta ao Algarve where he was close to getting his first win, but nothing could be done against Fabio Jakobsen as he gathered his second win.

"I was there in the final so I'm happy with that but yeah, strong young option [Jakobsen]. I think it was possible [to win] because when Fabio went I had the feeling I could beat him, but then I missed better speed because of the push of Coquard because he wanted to be in the wheel of Fabio," Merlier said right after the finish on an interview with CyclingPro, detailing his sprint.

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"And then yeah, I lost a bit of speed and I couldn't come anymore, strong sprint of Fabio of course. I think it's the first sprint I did, first stage I didn't sprint. We work now for the next races," he added.

After a very successful season last year Tim Merlier is looking to replicate his success in 2022. The Volta ao Algarve his is first race of the year, he will be at the Giro d'Italia and Tour de France again this year in an attempt to gather more big wins, with the Belgian classics and Tirreno-Adriatico as the next goals after his stint in Portugal.