Tim Merlier wins 'unofficial Belgian Championship for sprinters' at Leiedal Koerse

On Saturday, Tim Merlier achieved victory at the 'unofficial Belgian Championship for sprinters', edging out the likes of Jasper Philipsen , Arnaud De Lie and Gerben Thijssen to take the win at Leiedal Koerse.

As mentioned, the race is more often than not decided in a sprint finish. On Saturday however, this was very nearly not the case. With an eight-man group off the front, most notably featuring Gianni Vermeersch, Merlier's Soudal - Quick-Step team had to really work hard to pull the race back together.

Jasper Philipsen was the next man to make his move, drawing away an elite group that featured almost all of the fastest Belgian sprinters including Merlier, De Lie and Thijssen. With the thirteen-man group clear of the rest it eventually came down to the excepted sprint finish.

Merlier was the winner, earning himself the right to call himself the fast Belgian on two wheels. His former teammate Philipsen came home second and De Lie was forced to settle for third.