Tim Merlier strikes again: "This is a dream. I can't believe it and I am very happy"

Tim Merlier has won the opening stage of the Tour of Oman and UAE Tour earlier this year. To keep up the traidition, he has won stage 1 of Paris-Nice in impressive preparation.

“The sprint preparation was excellent, but it was also a tough day. There was a lot of stress in the peloton and on the steep climb at 20 kilometers from the finish it also became a tactical game”, Merlier shares after the finish. The Belgian champion was within the peloton as Neilson Powless and Tadej Pogacar sparked attacks in the peloton, and had Soudal - Quick-Step work hard after the final hilltop to guarrantee the sprinters would have their chance.

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“We had two men with us, but luckily we came back. Kasper Asgreen brought me up well after that and we stayed together from there. I can't say how nice it is to ride this train," he comments. The Belgian team managed to bring things back, and Florian Sénéchal launched a late move which forced BORA - hangrohe into doing the leadout. The sprint had been well set up for Sam Bennett, but Tim Merlier soared through in the final meters.

“This is a dream. I can't believe it and I am very happy, also for the team," he concluded. Merlier will be a big contender for stage 2 as the peloton tackles the flattest stage of the French race.

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Third time this season that @MerlierTim has won on the first day of a stage race 🤩 Photo: @GettySport

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