Tim Merlier sees his return postponed as Soudal - Quick-Step shifts focus to clearer summer targets
Cycling
In February last year, Tim Merlier had already added four victories to his career, but in the 2026 season the 33-year-old Belgian rider has yet to pin on a race number and his return to competition could be postponed.
Merlier was scheduled to return to racing at Gent Wevelgem at the end of March, but the recovery from a knee issue led Soudal - Quick-Step to postpone his comeback so that he can feel 100% and reach peak form in the summer at the Tour de France.
Belgian sprinter yet to race in 2026
It is a difficult decision for the Belgian, who finished second at In Flanders Fields in 2025 and had intended to return to the Flemish one-day Classics this spring, aiming to defend his titles at Scheldeprijs and the Brussels Cycling Classic.
"He had a good first week of training with three-hour rides. Until recently, the knee pain always started after half an hour in the saddle," said the team’s General Manager Jurgen Foré to DirectVelo.
Returning to training without pain is positive news, but with a knee injury it is crucial not to rush the recovery process, especially as Merlier has been off the bike for a considerable period.
"We have to understand that he was unable to train in December and January. He certainly needs to rebuild his base fitness over six to eight weeks," Foré said.
Foré was clear and ruled out a return to racing without a solid foundation. "I wouldn’t want to put him in a 260-kilometre race with such a thin base. I never say never, but I think it’s still unrealistic," he stressed.
Summer targets in mind
Instead, the Belgian team prefers to take a long-term view, targeting the Grand Boucle. "I think with Tim Merlier, we would be better off aiming at long-term goals, more thinking about the Tour de France. Maybe that freshness could be beneficial for the Tour de France," he said.
Tim Merlier will therefore miss the Spring Classics, with Soudal - Quick-Step aiming for a fourth stage win at the Tour de France for their rider, who raised his arms twice last year, adding to the one he secured in 2021.
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Carlos Silva is a writer for CyclingUpToDate.com, where he contributes race reports, interviews, analysis pieces, and live coverage of the international cycling calendar. Holding a degree in Sports from the Jean Piaget Institute, he combines academic knowledge of performance, training, and competition with hands-on journalism experience in professional cycling.
Throughout his career, Carlos has conducted interviews with leading figures in the sport, including Alberto Contador, Joaquim Rodríguez, Óscar Pereiro, João Almeida, Isaac del Toro, Derek Gee, John Degenkolb and Geraint Thomas. These conversations reflect direct engagement with Grand Tour winners, Classics specialists, and emerging talents.
He has provided on-site coverage at major events ranging from the Vuelta a España to the Tour de France, alongside stage races such as Vuelta a Andalucía, Volta ao Algarve, Volta a Portugal and O Gran Camiño. Covering the mythical climbs of the Giro d'Italia remains one of his professional ambitions.
Carlos is responsible for liveblog coverage of all major WorldTour races and beyond, including the Tour de France, Giro d'Italia and Vuelta a España. His reporting integrates verified data from ProCyclingStats to ensure statistical accuracy, contextual depth, and analytical precision.
A lifelong cycling enthusiast, he approaches storytelling across written, photographic, and video formats with a focus on credibility, tactical insight, and informed race interpretation.
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- It would likely be a very steep section of 4.1 km, not changing the average gradient considerably, with the climb remaining 10.1 km at 11.8%. It would reach 20% on the gravel. It would start 1.6 km in, and finish with 4.2 km left to climb (before the short final descent)
Rafionain-Glas02-11-2026
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