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.

“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.