After a full month of drought, Tim Merlier returns to savor the sweet taste of victory by imposing himself in the second stage of the Baloise Belgium Tour. On the slightly uphill finish line in Knokke-Heist (the finish of a 197-kilometer stage that started from Merelbeke-Melle), the Belgian sprinter of Soudal Quick-Step, second yesterday behind Biniam Girmay, left no room for his rivals and, perfectly guided by Bert Van Lerberghe, imposed himself ahead of Olav Kooij (Decathlon CGA CGM) and Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Premier Tech).

In doing so, the thirty-three-year-old from Wortegem-Petegem (at his sixth success of 2026) also went to claim the purple jersey as the new leader of the general classification, a ranking that now, thanks to the ten seconds of time bonus gained with today's first place, sees him in first position with six seconds over Girmay and eight over Bart Kortleve (Metec - SOLARWATT p/b Mantel).

THE RACE

The stage experienced, as expected, its key moments once it reached the final circuit (composed of Jonah Killy of Tarteletto - Isorex, Stijn Appel of BEAT CC p/b Saxo, Victor Broex of Metec - SOLARWATT p/b Mantel, Victor Hannes of Aarco, Viktor Vandenberghe of Pauwels Sauzen - Altez Industriebouw Cycling Team and Michiel Hillen of Baloise Verzekeringen - Het Poetsbureau Lions) in the final 19.3-kilometer circuit.

During the last of the three laps scheduled before the finish, first Hillen and Vandenberghe at 18 kilometers from the finish and then, nine kilometers later, the remaining four breakaway riders were caught by the peloton which, like yesterday, therefore launched itself boldly towards the decisive final sprint where, thanks to the expertise of the Soudal Quick-Step men, Tim Merlier was placed in the best conditions to reconnect with victory a month and a day after his last success achieved at the Tour de Hongrie.

Behind him, Kooij and Philipsen could do nothing but finish on the podium of the day and bank two placements that bode well for the next stages where, in light of the condition shown in these first 48 hours of racing in Belgium, it is not excluded that Max Kanter (XDS Astana) could also hit the jackpot, fourth today after finishing in third position yesterday at Scherpenheuvel-Zichem.

FINISHING ORDER

1. Tim Merlier (BEL/Soudal Quick-Step)

2. Olav Kooij (NED/Decathlon CMA CGM Team) - s.t.

3. Jasper Philipsen (BEL/Alpecin–Deceuninck) - s.t.

4. Max Kanter (GER/XDS Astana Team) - s.t.

5. Emilien Jeannière (FRA/TotalEnergies) - s.t.

6. Jenno Berckmoes (BEL/Lotto Intermarchè) - s.t.

7. Tom Crabbe (BEL/Team Flanders-Baloise) - s.t.

8. Jonas Abrahamsen (NOR/Uno-X Mobility) - s.t.

9. Søren Wærenskjold (NOR/BEAT Cycling Club p/b Saxo) - s.t.

10. David Dekker (NED/Uno-X Mobility) - s.t.

GENERAL CLASSIFICATION

1. Tim Merlier (BEL/Soudal Quick-Step) at 8:24:05

2. Biniam Girmay (ERI/NSN Cycling Team) at 0:06

3. Bart Kortleve (NED/Metec-SOLARWATT p/b Mantel) at 0:08

4. Viktor Vandenberghe (BEL/Pauwels Sauzen-Altez Industriebouw Cycling Team) at 0:08

5. Robbe Mellaerts (BEL/Baloise Verzekeringen-Het Poetsbureau Lions) at 0:09

6. Olav Kooij (NED/Decathlon CMA CGM Team) at 0:10

7. Max Kanter (GER/XDS Astana Team) at 0:12

8. Jasper Philipsen (BEL/Alpecin–Deceuninck) at 0:12

9. Victor Broex (BEL/Metec-SOLARWATT p/b Mantel) at 0:12

10. Wies Nuyens (BEL/Pauwels Sauzen-Altez Industriebouw Cycling Team) at 0:13

OTHER CLASSIFICATIONS

Points classification: Tim Merlier (BEL/Soudal Quick-Step)

Best young rider classification: Bart Kortleve (NED/Metec-SOLARWATT p/b Mantel)