Van Uden sees chain fall off, Philipsen almost crashes and Merlier wins first stage of the Baloise Belgium Tour

After Tuesday evening’s team presentation in Merelbeke-Melle, the race started in that same town on Wednesday. Nearly 200 kilometers later, after four local laps, the stage finished in Knokke-Heist—a classic sprint stage on paper, attracting the likes of Merlier, Philipsen, and other fast men. Normally, Alexander Kristoff (Uno-X) would be among them too, but the Norwegian, along with Artem Schmidt (INEOS), did not start.

From the very beginning, everything pointed to a bunch sprint. A breakaway of six riders formed: Dylan Vandestorme (Flanders Baloise), Quentin Bezza (Pierre Wagner), Yorben Lauryssen (Pauwels Sauzen), Frits Biesterbos (BEAT), Victor Broex (Metec), and Gianni Marchand (Tartoletto). Soudal Quick-Step and Alpecin-Deceuninck controlled the gap.

Just before the Golden Kilometer, the breakaway was reeled in, giving us an early glimpse of who had general classification ambitions in this Tour of Belgium. Uno-X launched a full lead-out for Jonas Abrahamsen, who took maximum points at the first sprint. Ben Turner grabbed bonus seconds at the second point, and Jenno Berckmoes (Lotto) held off Filippo Ganna at the third.

The Golden Kilometer marked the start of the finale, as the pace never let up afterward. Olivier Godfroid (Baloise Glowi Lions) launched an attack and was soon joined by Dutch rider Stijn Appel (BEAT Cycling). The duo built a small gap, but the peloton kept them within close range. Tim Torn Teutenberg had to change bikes in the final kilometers, but the Lidl-Trek rider managed it quickly.

Unsurprisingly, with ten kilometers to go, it was game over for Godfroid and Appel. In the peloton, lead-out trains started to form. Shortly afterward, a major crash disrupted the bunch, with Uno-X leader Jonas Abrahamsen going down hard. Intermarché-Wanty Belgian rider Zeno Moonen also hit the tarmac hard, but both managed to continue after a brief delay.

Following another, much lighter crash involving a Tudor rider who briefly touched the ground, the peloton pressed on toward the finish. Lotto riders seemed to have their timing spot on, while Israel-Premier Tech also stayed near the front throughout the finale. On the final straight, stretched out in a long line, Van Uden was the first to launch his sprint. But the Dutchman dropped his chain, and Philipsen almost crashed, barely managing to stay upright. Merlier launched his sprint early and powered to victory in a chaotic finish, ahead of Juan Sebastian Molano (second) and Ethan Vernon (third).