Friday May 3, 2024 at 5:57 PM
Interview This season the Giro d’Italia may have its strongest field of sprinters in years. Okay, no Jasper Philipsen at the start, but with Olav Kooij, Jonathan Milan, Fabio Jakobsen, Caleb Ewan, Kaden Groves and Tim Merlier there is no shortage of fast men. The latter is Soudal Quick-Step’s best chance for a stage victory.
Merlier is aiming for stage victories in the bunch sprints, but also believes in La Maglia Ciclamino. “We will already know a lot about the value ratios after the first week. There are many strong sprinters present who can leave their mark on the sprints. Jonathan Milan won the points jersey last year. This year too he came across very strongly to me in Tirreno-Adriatico. For me he is the favorite for purple.”
But if Merlier wants to be eligible for the jersey, he will have to finish. Something that was not evident during his previous (only!) three Grand Tours. “I just don’t have that much experience in the big tours yet, because I only really started focusing on the road after my first Belgian title in 2019. In my second year I got my chance in the Giro, but after a decision by the team I had to go home and then also participate in the Tour. The following year the Vuelta was planned, which I did finish. And last year I wasn’t selected for any round. From now on I will do big rounds more often.”
Climbing capabilities
Did Merlier work extra on his climbing abilities? “After Paris-Roubaix I first took a few days of rest, but then I went to Mount Teide on Tenerife with my family to properly prepare myself for the climbing that is coming up. I hope that has made me a little stronger. On the other hand, I can still do an altitude internship for another year, but I will never become a good climber (laughs). I’m just trying to get good enough uphill that I don’t get into trouble. But that’s going to happen anyway.”
In order to even get around to sprinting, Merlier will often have to survive a slope. How many opportunities does he see for himself? “I have to check the route book more carefully to be able to discuss this in detail. But the legs will speak. It won’t be a big problem in the first few days, but as the race progresses – when the legs become more and more full of lactate – it will become more difficult. That is difficult to estimate in advance, it is three weeks long. But of course I want to sprint as much as possible.”
Van Lerberghe
One thing is certain: both in the mountains and in the sprints, Merlier will be able to count on his regular lead out and good friend Bert Van Lerberghe. “It is our first big tour together, but we have often shown that we do well together. In the mountains he will probably try to release me, to show that he is the stronger of the two of us. That is always a game in the race between the two of us (laughs).”
