Merlier on Leading Paris-Nice: ‘It's a strong team and they believed in me today’

Tim Merlier (Soudal-QuickStep) took his fourth win of the season on the opening stage of the 2023 Paris-Nice. Soudal-QuickStep took control of the closing kilometres while Trek-Segafredo kept close as the riders went under the flamme rouge. Bora-Hansgrohe then made a well-timed move to the front, which allowed Bennett to start the sprint to the line. However, when Soudal-QuickStep’s Merlier opened up, he quickly went past everyone and maintained a healthy lead all the way to the finish line.

“It’s a strong team and they believed in me today. It was a great lead out,” Merlier said.

“It was definitely a hard day because there was a lot of stress in the peloton. There was a steep climb 19 kilometres from the finish that was also big tactically. We had two men in there, and then we came back on the last climb. I survived well. Then Kasper Asgreen brought me to the front. From there on, the team kept working together and I can’t say how great it was to be in this train.”

Meanwhile, in the GC, Pogačar did try to make a break work but lacked cooperation from his rivals. Still, he did pick up the six bonus seconds in the intermediate sprint on the Côte de Dis-sept Tournants and thus already holds an advantage over his rivals. New season, same old exciting racing! Who do you favour for the GC?