14/01/2023

Tim Merlier was on the verge of becoming a full-time road rider - "For a while I toyed with the idea of leaving cyclocross"

Tim Merlier has had very decent results over the last weeks in the cyclocross circuit. It would be hard to tell from there that the Belgian was close to abandoning the discipline recently, and has also trained very little ahead of the season.

Merlier has recently made his debut with the Soudal - Quick-Step jersey in the cyclocross field where he achieved some solid results despite the lack of good starting positions and any real training. “And that really makes me happy. I must confess that I have not done any specific cross training. Only cycled a few tours, but that is not training," he admitted in an interview with Wielerflits.

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He made his return on the 18th of December with a second place in a C2 French race. A 22nd place in the Gavere World Cup followed. However as 2023 turned and he got a new set of equipment, both jersey and bike, things have taken a turn for the better.

“A good holeshot is still possible, that reassures me. It won't always work out. But now it was okay. In Koksijde I started from the fifth row. In Herentals it was the third or fourth. It is great that it works, but it takes a lot of energy, so I still have a relapse," he says.

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He raced Herentals and Koksijde, finishing 9th and 13th respectively despite his limitations. Merlier won't be having big goals, and will have a short calendar, but is hoping to have a good result this weekend at the National Championships.

“My old sports director Mario Declercq once suggested to me to join the first two laps and then see if there is room for growth to stay ahead in the long term. But that is of course not possible with Wout and Mathieu," he comments. The road Belgian champion prepares for an important season in the peloton, and part of his preparation sees him doing the sharp cyclocross efforts.

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“I am having a great time on the new cross bike. The Specialized feels really good in my hand. The geometry of the bike suits me well," he added. "For a while I toyed with the idea of leaving cyclocross next year, the organizers are not very keen to sign me yet."

"As a Belgian champion on the road and with cross experience, I expected a bit more interest. But now that the bike appeals to me and I can show something without specific training, I want to keep doing it," Merlier concluded.