Belgian Champion Secures Fifth Win of the Season in Dominant Fashion
Tim Merlier (Soudal Quick-Step) strengthened his position as one of the world’s top sprinters by storming to victory in the opening stage of Paris-Nice. The Belgian European champion outclassed his rivals in a commanding bunch sprint, securing his fifth win of the season and taking the outright lead in the 2025 victory standings.
Heading into the race, Merlier was tied with Tadej Pogačar and Tom Pidcock at four wins apiece. His latest triumph—following two stage victories at both the AlUla Tour in January and the UAE Tour in February—further underscores his ability to start the season at full speed.
Despite his dominance, Merlier remained humble when asked whether he considered himself the best sprinter in the world.
“It’s not up to me to say things like this,” Merlier said after his win. “It’s up to you guys to decide. I just try to win as much as possible and take my opportunities.”
Sprint Hierarchy in Question
Merlier’s case for being the top sprinter is strong. He has twice beaten rivals Jonathan Milan and Jasper Philipsen in sprints at the UAE Tour. However, Milan also secured two stage wins at the same event, while Philipsen, a nine-time Tour de France stage winner, rebounded to take victory at Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne.
Merlier, 32, believes his form is on par with last season, when he also notched five wins before the end of February. Despite making his Paris-Nice success appear effortless, he admitted the high pace set by general classification teams made the stage particularly challenging.
“From 70 kilometers to go, Visma started to make the peloton nervous, and it was really tense on the climbs,” Merlier explained. “But we reorganized, I stayed near the front, and other teams closed the gaps when there were attacks. In the last kilometer, I had the perfect lead-out.”
Démare Left Frustrated
While Merlier’s confidence continues to build with each win, runner-up Arnaud Démare (Arkéa-B&B Hotels) expressed frustration at another missed opportunity. The Frenchman, once among the elite sprinters, has struggled to return to his former dominance, with his last WorldTour victory dating back three years.
“I’m disappointed because I finished very fast but was badly placed at the last bend and got boxed in,” Démare said. “I felt good, and the team performed well, so that’s a positive sign. But this is the third time I’ve finished second this season, and I’d really like to confirm my form with a win.”
As Paris-Nice progresses, Merlier will have further chances to reinforce his status as the peloton’s leading sprinter, while Démare continues his search for a long-awaited return to the top step of the podium.
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