Tour de Pologne

Tim Merlier racked up Soudal Quick-Step’s 38th victory since the start of the season after unleashing another powerful sprint in the final 300 meters of the last stage in Krakow. The Belgian, who kicked off the Tour de Pologne last Saturday by claiming the win on the opening day in Poznan, came off the wheel of Bert Van Lerberghe – who produced a top lead-out – and held off the late charge of Arvid de Kleijn (Tudor Pro Cycling) to win by a wheel.

One of the best sprinters of the year, Merlier became the first Belgian rider in the last six decades to score two victories at a single edition of the Tour de Pologne, a feat which makes this season his most successful so far in terms of number of wins.

“We were motivated to make it a hat-trick of victories here and I’m proud I could finish it off. The finale was again a nervous one, but the team was amazing, keeping me at the front and at all times in a good position. Bert did a strong lead-out, and even though I had to go from the distance, I could keep the speed all the way to the line. I am still not in my best shape, so to take two wins against some strong sprinters here makes me very confident for my next races”, said Tim after his eighth victory of the season.

Soudal Quick-Step finished the race with two riders in the top five, the only team to do so: Ilan Van Wilder, who concluded just a couple of seconds outside the podium, and Mattia Cattaneo. The two were consistent throughout the whole week, and a strong time trial in Katowice, where Mattia took the win, helped them gain several places in the classification, which at the end of the day resulted in their best result in a World Tour stage race.

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