Baloise Belgium Tour
Stage 2: Beringen – Putte
Belgium
Thursday 19 June 2025
194.6 km
No luck for Tim Merlier

Tim Merlier was again one of the main favourites on the second stage of the race, but luck wasn’t on the European Champion’s side in Putte. The course was completely flat, but took the peloton on some exposed roads which made for an entertaining race, as the winds split the bunch with 50 kilometers to go.
Soudal Quick-Step’s leader, together with his many teammates, were in the first group, which forced those behind to push hard and spend a lot of energy in order to join them. The echelons spelled the end of the breakaway, but soon, three riders attacked and gained time on the field, remaining at the front of the race until the final eight kilometers. As the bunch split again, another rider tried his chance, hoping to take advantage of the situation, but he too was brought back.
On the other hand, this made for a very hectic finish, without a lead-out train to control things. Merlier tried to open his sprint with 200 meters to go, but he was boxed in and had to settle for seventh place on this stage won by Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Deceuninck). Following this result, he is now third overall going into Friday’s short individual time trial, one of the two consecutive stages that will be decisive in the general classification fight.
Photo credit: ©Rhode Van Elsen / Getty Images
Race details
1 |
Jasper Philipsen Alpecin - Deceuninck |
4:07:27 |
2 |
Juan Sebastián Molano Benavides UAE Team Emirates - XRG |
0:00 |
3 |
Jenno Berckmoes Lotto |
0:00 |
4 |
Tim Torn Teutenberg Lidl - Trek |
0:00 |
5 |
Florian Dauphin Team TotalEnergies |
0:00 |
6 |
Matyáš Kopecký Team Novo Nordisk |
0:00 |
7 |
Tim Merlier
Soudal Quick-Step |
0:00 |
8 |
Steffen De Schuyteneer Lotto |
0:00 |
9 |
Fernando Gaviria Rendon Movistar Team |
0:00 |
10 |
Lindsay De Vylder Team Flanders - Baloise |
0:00 |
19 |
Yves Lampaert
Soudal Quick-Step |
0:00 |
53 |
Dries Van Gestel
Soudal Quick-Step |
0:00 |
73 |
Ethan Hayter
Soudal Quick-Step |
0:00 |
95 |
Bert Van Lerberghe
Soudal Quick-Step |
0:00 |
100 |
Josef Černý
Soudal Quick-Step |
1:04 |
DNF |
Martin Svrček
Soudal Quick-Step |
-04:07:27 |
1 |
Juan Sebastián Molano Benavides UAE Team Emirates - XRG |
8:30:58 |
2 |
Jasper Philipsen Alpecin - Deceuninck |
0:01 |
3 |
Tim Merlier
Soudal Quick-Step |
0:02 |
4 |
Jenno Berckmoes Lotto |
0:05 |
5 |
Olivier Godfroid Baloise Glowi Lions |
0:06 |
6 |
Axel van der Tuuk Metec - SOLARWATT p/b Mantel |
0:06 |
7 |
Wessel Mouris Unibet Tietema Rockets |
0:06 |
8 |
Ethan Vernon Israel - Premier Tech |
0:08 |
9 |
Ben Turner INEOS Grenadiers |
0:09 |
10 |
Søren Kragh Andersen Lidl - Trek |
0:09 |
65 |
Yves Lampaert
Soudal Quick-Step |
0:12 |
75 |
Dries Van Gestel
Soudal Quick-Step |
0:12 |
78 |
Bert Van Lerberghe
Soudal Quick-Step |
0:12 |
91 |
Ethan Hayter
Soudal Quick-Step |
0:12 |
119 |
Josef Černý
Soudal Quick-Step |
1:16 |
1 |
Juan Sebastián Molano Benavides UAE Team Emirates - XRG |
50 pt |
2 |
Tim Merlier
Soudal Quick-Step |
43 pt |
3 |
Tim Torn Teutenberg Lidl - Trek |
32 pt |
4 |
Jasper Philipsen Alpecin - Deceuninck |
30 pt |
5 |
Fernando Gaviria Rendon Movistar Team |
30 pt |
6 |
Jenno Berckmoes Lotto |
22 pt |
7 |
Ethan Vernon Israel - Premier Tech |
22 pt |
8 |
Alberto Dainese Tudor Pro Cycling Team |
17 pt |
9 |
Florian Dauphin Team TotalEnergies |
17 pt |
10 |
Matyáš Kopecký Team Novo Nordisk |
15 pt |
1 |
Wessel Mouris Unibet Tietema Rockets |
8:31:04 |
2 |
Tim Torn Teutenberg Lidl - Trek |
0:06 |
3 |
Matyáš Kopecký Team Novo Nordisk |
0:06 |
4 |
Steffen De Schuyteneer Lotto |
0:06 |
5 |
Leander Van Hautegem Wagner Bazin WB |
0:06 |
6 |
Wies Nuyens Pauwels Sauzen - Cibel Clementines |
0:06 |
7 |
Huub Artz Intermarché - Wanty |
0:06 |
8 |
Michiel Lambrecht Wagner Bazin WB |
0:06 |
9 |
Seppe Van Den Boer Baloise Glowi Lions |
0:06 |
10 |
Alec Segaert Lotto |
0:06 |
1 | Team Flanders - Baloise | 25:33:30 |
2 | UAE Team Emirates - XRG | 0:00 |
3 | Intermarché - Wanty | 0:00 |
4 | Alpecin - Deceuninck | 0:00 |
5 | Lotto | 0:00 |
6 | Wagner Bazin WB | 0:00 |
7 | Movistar Team | 0:00 |
8 | Pauwels Sauzen - Cibel Clementines | 0:00 |
9 | Lidl - Trek | 0:00 |
10 | Israel - Premier Tech | 0:00 |