Tim Merlier headlines our seven-man squad for Wednesday’s appointment.
Held annually – with the exception of 2016 and 2020 – since 1945, Omloop van het Houtland will be our team’s final one-day race of September. Sticking to the tradition of the past couple of seasons, the peloton will get underway from Eernegem and take on three laps around the West Flanders town before heading south to Lichtervelde. There, the riders are set to cover nine times a pan-flat local circuit where the fast men’s teams will do their best to make sure this 78th edition comes down to a bunch sprint.
Having missed last Sunday’s Gooikse Pijl due to illness just days after podiuming in Koolskamp, Tim Merlier is back in action, ready to lead Soudal Quick-Step at the 198.7km race. The European Champion will be joined at the start by Yves Lampaert, Pepijn Reinderink, Pieter Serry, Dries Van Gestel, Bert Van Lerberghe, and Warre Vangheluwe.
“We are happy to have Tim back in the team. He’ll once again rely on a strong squad and a great lead-out man, Bert, to fight for victory on Wednesday. The weather could play an important role, and if the wind makes an appearance, then we could have a really hard race. No matter the scenario, we are confident in our chances, as we have riders capable of controlling it and being prominent in the finale”, said sports director Kevin Hulsmans.
Photo credit: ©Dario Belingheri / Getty Images
