"We lost each-other a bit, but we didn't stress" - Tim Merlier breaks down chaotic Tour de Hongrie sprint victory
Cycling
Tim Merlier was delighted to throw his arms up in celebration on Wednesday as he took a dominant sprint victory in stage one of the Tour de Hongrie. The Belgian was finishing just his fifth race day of the season, but his already top of the podium for the third time and will wear the yellow jersey on Thursday's second stage.
In a nervous run-in marred by two crashes, Merlier used his experience to find the right wheels while also using his team to beat Juan Sebastien Molano by over a bike length at the line. Merlier had Bert Van Lerberghe and Alberto Dainese in suport for the finale, but was forced to follow wheels and wait for hismoment to strike - waiting until the final 200 meters to emerge from the slipstream round Molano.
"We lost each-other a bit, but we didn't stress about it. I think once in the last kilometer we came together," Merlier said after the race. "Alberto [Dainese] did his last move and then also Bert [Van Lerberghe] still did a little bit of a lead-out. I think with 500 meters to go he brought me into a perfect position. I was waiting until 200 meters to go and I launched."
In an injury disrupted spring, Merlier confirmed that he's finding his form just at the right time: "The feeling is okay. Only the fifth race of the season and already the third win, so I can be happy."
Merlier surprised by crashes
A crash involving over twenty riders during the breakaway formation raised eyebrows. Despite little street furniture and good road surface, a high pace and nerves within the peloton led to some surprising crashes and helped Lidl-Trek duo Mathias Sunekær Norsgaard and Kristian Egholm survive deep into the stage at the front, according to the 33-year-old.
Merlier added: "After 20 kilometers there was a big crash, I was a bit surprised. There were really nice roads definitely with no road furniture so I was surprised."
"I think the riders were a bit nervous for the possibility of echelons or something, it was not the fault of the organisation at all. In the end, we were quite surprised about the two guys who were fighting."
Gavin QuinnCycling Journalist
Gavin Quinn is a cycling journalist and ultra-distance cyclist with a BA in Journalism from Dublin City University. Formerly the Press & Communications Officer for Cycling Ireland, Gavin has worked inside the national team at the World Championships and has reported for the Irish Mirror, Mirror UK, and The42.
His expertise is backed by elite-level access, having interviewed stars like Sam Bennett and Ben Healy, as well as immense personal endurance. In 2025, he completed a 12,000km solo cycle from Ireland to Vietnam, following a 4,600km tour across Europe. From the cobbles of Paris-Roubaix to the gradients of the Tourmalet, Gavin’s writing focuses on the "romance and brutality" of the sport. Having visited 50+ countries, he brings a global, cultural perspective to his coverage of the pro peloton for CyclingUpToDate.
claps 0visitors 0
Just in
Popular news
Latest comments
- Seixas appears to be that good but if he isn't (an absolute rival to Pogacar) he would have plenty of company in rising stars that did not go on to fully meet the expectations of many. That Pogacar wasn't the greatest (as great) sooner can't be transposed onto another's development. It may be not that simple.flyer14-11-2026
- I agree that, for Evenepoel, the Euro championship is overshadowed by the slightly off Lombardia and Worlds. However, I disagree that "Ciccone also made a serious mistake at the European Championships" because I don't think he had a win in the bag although he could have won with a perfect bike throw. Guesswork about the finish is not evidence by me for some serious mistake. Sometimes you just barely lose - although Ciccone's sourpuss about it persona was serious.flyer14-11-2026
- I bet you photobombed the video since you are his shadow!frieders314-11-2026
- Skipping the 2027 TDF would be fine in my opinion, and if so, it further reveals that him racing it in 2026 was a good decision. Seixas speaks confident, almost cocky, these days (not meant to be a criticism) and I find it a tad humorous that people (rather commentators) continually chide and advise on how Decathlon should direct and manage Seixas when Paul seems to be calling all his shots since well before this year's TDF.flyer14-11-2026
- Well I just watched this and I thought it was great! If you’re a Pogi fan, like me, you’ll enjoy it. Even if you’re not necessarily a Pogi fan I still recommend it. There’s plenty of new stuff I didn’t know about and I’m a Pogi-maniac! Nice interviews with Pogi & Matteo Trentin too.Lozza14-11-2026
- Well I just watched this and I thought it was great! If you’re a Pogi fan, like me, you’ll enjoy it. Even if you’re not necessarily a Pogi fan I still recommend it. There’s plenty of new stuff I didn’t know about and I’m a Pogi-maniac! Nice interviews with Pogi & Matteo Trentin too. So Zonnewotsit can stick it!Lozza14-11-2026
- Who’s gifting grand tours at UAE? Defo not Pogi! Stage wins maybe.Lozza13-11-2026
- Sepp Kuss Vuelta 2023.Lozza13-11-2026
- they have no expertise with classics, they have no leaders in classics. the classics is dominated by the few Fuori Classe riders where other riders are left with scraps. the Hiring , the salaries dont make sense at all. Same problem as Man Utd. over paid players, egos, very little performanceabstractengineer13-11-2026
- Contract year means you gotta win, at least collect UCI points, helping be damnedabstractengineer13-11-2026
Loading
Write a comment