Tim Merlier (Alpecin-Fenix) has put the Brussels Cycling Classic on his honors list. The national champion was the fastest in Brussels. Just after the finish, podium men Davide Ballerini (Deceuninck-Quick Step) and Nacer Bouhanni (Arkéa-Samsic) still had a strong shove.
Tim Merlier sprints to victory in the Brussels Cycling Classic
Bouhanni slides down after the finish, Ballerini in the crush barriers
Fall to the arrival in the pouring rain
Will there be a sprint in Brussels or not? The Brussels Cycling Classic, formerly Paris-Brussels, presents the peloton the same trick question every year.
UAE-Emirates had one of the top favorites in the house with Fernando Gaviria, but lightning rod Jasper Philipsen tried to wear the group down in the pouring rain.
Philipsen made war with Aimé De Gendt (Circus-Wanty Gobert) and Ilan Van Wilder (Sunweb) in the final phase, but Florian Sénéchal (Deceuninck-Quick Step), among others, canceled the attempt.
A sprint could not be avoided and especially Nacer Bouhanni’s teammates seemed to roll out the red carpet just in time. Tim Merlier did not let himself be surprised and turned on strongly at the right moment.
The Belgian champion immediately took a few meters and gave everyone a quick check.
Bouhanni could no longer avoid a fall on the soaking wet road surface at the slight left turn just after the finish and chatted Ballerini into the crush barriers. The unlucky birds seem to be released with the fright without much damage.
Winner Merlier: “My legs were still fresh at the end”
“I thought I would be ahead a little too early”, Tim Merlier analyzed his sprint victory, “but everything fell into place.”
“I felt the train coming from Bouhanni and thought: all or nothing. Last year my sprint here failed, but then I was alone. ”
“I know I have to be brought a little. Today I had my men around me and I felt that my legs were still fresh at the end, thanks to my team. ”
“Now I am heading to Tirreno-Adriatico, where I also want to win a stage.”
Interview with Tim Merlier:
| Result Brussels Cycling Classic (1.Pro) | ||
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Tim Merlier | 204 km in 4u48’39” |
| 2. | Davide Ballerini (Ita) | z.t. |
| 3. | Nacer Bouhanni (Fra) | |
| 4. | Florian Vermeersch | |
| 5. | Martin Salmon (Dui) | |
| 6. | Pascal Ackermann (Dui) | |
| 7. | Lawrence Naesen | |
| 8. | Romain Seigle (Fra) | |
| 9. | Amaury capiot | |
| 10. | Edward Planckaert | |
This careless cycling tourist just escapes a collision with the leading group:
South African does not see the traffic brakes and turns over at full speed
Report of the Brussels Cycling Classic
