Race news

Knee injury delays Tim Merlier's start to new season

At the Soudal-QuickStep media day in Calpe on Thursday, Tim Merlier revealed that his training has been interrupted by a knee injury this winter. He will not line up at the AlUla Tour later this month, with the start of his season still to be decided.

January 9 2026 - 12:35 PM

Cor Vos

Tim Merlier will delay the start of his season as he works his way back to full fitness following a knee injury earlier in the winter. The Belgian had been slated to start his 2026 campaign at the AlUla Tour later this month, but he confirmed at the Soudal-QuickStep media day on Thursday that he would not make the trip to Saudi Arabia.

Earlier this week, organiser ASO had issued a press release suggesting that Merlier would face off against Jonathan Milan (Lidl-Trek) at the AlUla Tour. Merlier won two stages at the race in 2025.

“The AlUla Tour is out of the question,” Merlier said, according to Sporza. “I will only start my season when I feel ready and when the coaches agree. That’s when we will set a date. We’ll see how it evolves. It’s too early to say where I’ll start now.”

Despite the delayed start to his campaign, Merlier was adamant that his goal for the early part of the season remained unchanged. “What do I hope for? To be in top form for the Classics period,” he said.

Recently, Merlier identified Gent-Wevelgem, now branded In Flanders Fields from Middelkerke to Wevelgem, as a key target, a race that carries personal meaning through his relationship with Cameron Vandenbroucke, daughter of the 1998 winner Frank Vandenbroucke.

Merlier explained that his knee injury manifested itself in early December after he had competed in the Boonen and Friends Cyclocross event, but he refused to blame switching disciplines for the issue.

Although Merlier never pinpointed the cause of the problem, the pain has since abated. He has resumed training, though he is still shy of full fitness after the time off the bike.

“It went away with rest,” Merlier said. “It’s not easy, being here on a training camp in Spain. Fully connecting with the rest of the team isn’t possible yet.”

Merlier won 16 races in 2025, including Scheldeprijs and two stages of the Tour de France, and he also placed second at Gent-Wevelgem. He is expected to return to the Tour in 2026, while fellow fast man Paul Magnier is likely to ride the Giro d’Italia.