"With a headwind it was just too early" - Tim Merlier forced to settle for second on stage 11 after mistiming final sprint

Tim Merlier couldn't quite take his second stage win at the 2024 Giro d'Italia on stage 11. Leading for much of the sprint, Merlier was eventually forced to settle for second behind Jonathan Milan.

"I jumped, but then with a headwind it was just too early," the Soudal - Quick-Step sprinter, who already tasted glory back on stage 3, reflects ruefully in his post-stage interview with Eurosport. "I felt Milan was coming and yeah, just a bit too far."

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With the final being a tight and technical one, the possibility for a crash was always there. In the end, Team DSM-Firmenich PostNL's Fabio Jakobsen was denied a sprint chance as he hit the deck. Merlier though, was thankfully able to avoid any of the incidents happening behind.

"My team put me in a really good position. It was a perfect job from the guys," the Belgian concludes. "A shame I can't win for them but it's not over yet! Milan was just a bit faster today."

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VIDEO: Fabio Jakobsen crashes hard in frantic sprint on stage 11 of Giro d'Italia