Tim Merlier reacts to his chances of winning the Paris-Roubaix: "My condition needs to be, let’s not say 100%, but 130%"
Cycling
Whether Tim Merlier becomes this year's Paris-Roubaix revelation remains to be seen, however his Soudal - Quick-Step boss Patrick Lefevere is convinced the Belgian sprinter has what it takes to succeed at the cobbled Monument.
"He's a former cyclo-crosser so he should be good in Paris-Roubaix as well," Lefevere told GCN. "A win is of course not easy but last year, he was in the battle in front for a long time, but unfortunately in Paris-Roubaix, the bad luck rides with you and he had a flat tyre in a very bad moment. We will see. He has one more year's experience because he started late on the road, but he's strong."
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"I believe also a little bit!" Merlier admitted. "My condition needs to be, let’s not say 100%, but 130% or something, and a lot of luck also. We work every year to have that goal but until now, it didn’t work out well. This year we try again and I still believe a good result is possible."
"It must be the perfect situation," laughs Merlier. "Maybe with 30 guys or something! With the wind from the good side all day, some teammates still in the bunch and they do a good lead-out. Maybe it will be possible, I think this is the dream, but why not?"
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Ondrej ZhasilCycling Journalist
Ondřej Zhasil is a cycling journalist at CyclingUpToDate and has been part of the team since 2023. He is based in Ostrava, the third-largest city in the Czech Republic, and covers professional cycling across the main UCI competitions, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España. A key focus of his work is startlist analysis and pre-race coverage, where he examines team selections, rider line-ups, and tactical scenarios ahead of major events.
Alongside WorldTour coverage, Ondřej has developed specific expertise in junior cycling and in racing across East Asia, including competitions in China and Japan. He also maintains a broad working knowledge of other disciplines and levels, including cyclocross, while continuing to expand his understanding of mountain bike racing.
Ondřej holds a bachelor’s degree in Mathematics and Physics, which supports his analytical, data-driven approach to performance and race analysis. In his reporting, he regularly uses ProCyclingStats for results, statistics, and historical context. He places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available.
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MarkFour07-11-2026 - This is a really interesting idea, which, if well prepared could even be very successful. Very little money needs to be involved for a first season and any success could lead to rapid interest from sponsors.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
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