The pass of two for Merlier

A race that seems close to his heart. This Wednesday afternoon, Tim Merlier, Belgian champion and resident of the Soudal-Quick Step training, won the 77th edition of the Danilith Nokere Koerse, in Nokereberg, in the sprint.

The rider, already winner at the end of the 2022 edition, won ahead of three of his compatriots, knowing that the two who complete the podium of the day are Edward Theuns, who wears the colors of the Trek-Segafredo team, as well as Milan Menten, who evolves within the Lotto Dstny team. A 100% Belgian podium for the first time, in this same race, since the 1995 edition. That year, it was Jo Planckaert who won ahead of Michel Vermote and Geert Van Bondt.

Attacks and falls on the menu of the last meters

This Wednesday, at the front, seven men tried to escape, but in vain. However, this new victory was not so easy for Merlier. Insofar as many attacks occurred during the last meters of this event.

For its part, the peloton was also shaken, at the same time, by several falls which then well and truly disorganized it. In the end, it was all down to a sprint and the Belgian from Soudal-Quick Step was the one who once again had the last word.

The Belgian Champion takes his fifth victory of the season in style, with a huge sprint in the final 300 meters of #DanilithNokereKoerse!

Congratulations, @MerlierTim!

Photo: @GettySport pic.twitter.com/uYZ36MuzNv

— Soudal Quick-Step Pro Cycling Team (@soudalquickstep) March 15, 2023

CYCLING – UCI PROSERIES / DANILITH NOKERE KOERSE
Final classification (193.6km) – Wednesday March 15, 2023
1- Tim Merlier (BEL/Soudal-Quick Step) in 4h19’14”
2- Edward Theuns (BEL/Trek-Segafredo) mt
3- Milan Menten (BEL/Lotto Dstny) at 3”
4- Timo Kielich (BEL/Alpecin-Deceuninck) mt
5- Lewis Askey (GBR/Groupama-FDJ) mt
6- Sep Vanmarcke (BEL/Israel-Premier Tech) mt
7- Louis Blouwe (BEL/Bingoal WB) mt
8- Laurence Pithie (NZL/Groupama-FDJ) mt
9- Christophe Noppe (BEL/Cofidis) mt
10- Sjoerd Bax (PBS/UAE Team Emirates) at 7”
…