Soudal-Quick Step said NO to DNS Merlier, who then promptly beat Milan to take second: "He kept me on the start list"

The two powerhouses were listed as pre-race favorites, especially considering that the start list that lacked Mathieu van der Poel, Wout van Aert, and Tadej Pogacar. The hilly zone was supposed to bring fireworks, but afterward, there still seemed to be enough time for the remaining sprint teams to restore order — right? Wrong. Forty-nine seconds after Pedersen’s solo celebration, Merlier pushed his wheel over the line just slightly ahead of Milan's.

The European champion of Soudal-Quick Step was genuinely happy with that result, especially after a hard crash earlier in the week at Classic Brugge-De Panne. "After Wednesday, I really didn’t want to start today. I told Iljo (Keisse, team director, ed.) that I could never be ready. But he said no and kept me on the start list, so I have to thank him. I didn’t have too much trouble with my knee during the race, but I was sitting on my bike a little differently, which nearly gave me cramps in the sprint. I passed Milan quickly, but I knew he wouldn’t give up, so it turned into a long sprint, side by side."

"Mads was so strong — I think we should be happy with second place. I’m proud," Merlier added in the flash interview. "I was never really in the race. The first time, I missed the echelon and burned a big match just bridging back. On the first Kemmel, I cracked straight away. But when it came back together after the plug streets, I started to believe again. It was a steady tempo, not explosive — that saved me."

Milan was also satisfied with his result. "It was good to start with multiple cards to play, and I’m happy Mads won. I gave everything I had in the sprint and I’m happy with a podium. Maybe I launched a bit too early, that’s true. But for the upcoming races, we have a strong team — and especially Paris-Roubaix is very special to me. I’m really looking forward to that."