'It was a lucky one': Merlier wins Kampioenschap van Vlaanderen from deep in the bunch

Tim Merlier won the Kampioenschap van Vlaanderen for the second time in three years, beating Dylan Groenewegen in the sprint after entering the final kilometre out of position. Søren Wærenskjold was third for Uno-X Mobility after 180 kilometres over twelve local laps around Koolskamp.

Merlier had no lead-out in the closing metres and was forced to make his own decisions.

"The teammates were there, but I think just a bit too far to organise it, and then I needed to make some decisions. In the end they were the right ones," Merlier told Sporza.

He was still a long way back inside the final kilometre.

"Almost can't believe it, that I still win this one, because I was so far back in the bunch in the last kilometre," he said. "But sometimes you don't need the legs, only a bit of luck also."

That luck, according to Merlier, came while sitting on Groenewegen's wheel. He initially decided to wait, then changed his mind, losing some of the speed he had built up.

"First I decided to wait a bit in his wheel, but then I thought, I did a big mistake here. And then I decided to still go, but I lost so much speed that I thought Dylan was going to win this one," he said. "But then I passed him at the good moment, I think."

Groenewegen has now finished second here in consecutive years, having also finished behind Jonathan Milan in 2025, when Merlier was third. The Dutchman won the race in 2018.

Merlier's first win in Koolskamp came in 2024, while this is the third victory for Soudal Quick-Step in the race since Fabio Jakobsen won in 2022.

Despite getting his timing right in the end, Merlier felt fortune had played as much of a role as his sprinting.

"It's a bit strange to talk about the sprint, because for me it was a lucky one today," he said.