Tim Merlier sheds (green) light on the sprinters' debate at the Tour de France: 'Used to finding my own way'

Tim Merlier may well be the fastest rider at the start of the Tour de France, but—just like his teammates—he has to wait five days for his first chance. As we know him, that doesn’t really bother him: the Belgian team leader for Soudal Quick-Step takes things as they come and waits patiently until he can let loose.

"In terms of preparation, the difference is actually very simple: you just have to survive the first few days," explains Merlier. "You have to try to make it through unscathed, and then it’s full steam ahead. Of course, you also give it your all on the first day in the team time trial. So it is different, but the preparation remains the same. You just need that freshness as a sprinter. That’s what I mean."

"The first sprint is still just the first sprint in a Grand Tour. The adrenaline is pumping, and everyone wants to claim that victory. Everyone wants to bring that victory home for the team. So I’ll be super motivated for this stage, too, even after four tough days," Merlier says.

"Of course, there are a lot of other sprinters competing. The most important thing is that you're ready," he continues. “I felt good during the Baloise Belgium Tour. I did notice a few small mistakes there that I can work on, and that’s exactly what I’ve been trying to do here: find my best form. We’ll see how my body responds to that in the coming weeks. In any case, I’m ready for it.”

With Jasper Stuyven, his team has gained a strong reinforcement. The top rider had already been crucial for Paul Magnier in the Giro d'Italia. “That’s right, we’re much stronger. But I’m also used to finding my own way; that’s how we normally do it with Bert (Van Lerberghe). We’ve already had a chance to practice with Jasper in the Baloise Belgium Tour, and now we have Pascal (Eenkhoorn, ed.) with us as well.”

The Tour route doesn't really seem to favour the sprinters anyway. After stage twelve, there are only two half-chances left: heading toward Voiron and in Paris. “If there’s still a chance in the final week, of course you want to take it. I think a lot of sprinters feel the same way. But it’s an incredibly tough week.”

"So yeah, after that last chance, it's purely a matter of survival. I think the final stage has changed a bit, too, but after such a tough week, I still find it too difficult. Still, you have to seize every opportunity you can. You have to try to stay in the Tour—that’s my opinion. How are we going to do that? No idea—I’d rather not think about that just yet,” laughs Merlier, who is also secretly hoping for the green jersey this year.

The points system has, in fact, been changed to favor the pure sprinters. “If you win three or four stages, then you’re obviously on the right track.” Last year, it was a close race between Tadej (Pogacar) and Jontahan (Milan), I thought. So I think that’s why they adjusted the points system—to make it a little easier for a sprinter to win the green jersey.”

"But as I said: you have to win a few stages first to even have a chance. In any case, it would be really nice to ride in the green jersey in the Tour at least once. We’ll see later if that’s possible and if I have the energy to go for the green jersey,” said Merlier, who knows that defending such a jersey takes a lot of energy—energy he initially wants to use to win stages.