Don’t look for Tim Merlier at the AlUla Tour at the end of this month. The sprinter from Soudal Quick-Step was announced by organizer ASO as a key rider, but he won’t start the race in Saudi Arabia due to knee problems.
The knee issues first appeared in early December, but hospital examinations never revealed exactly what was wrong with Merlier. By resting, Merlier became pain-free after a while, but that period caused a fitness setback, Merlier told Sporza. That’s why the AlUla Tour is out of the question.
“Fully rejoining the rest of the team isn’t possible yet,” said Merlier. “We’ll see how it evolves. It’s too early to say where I’ll begin. When I feel ready and the coaches agree, then we’ll set a date. What am I hoping for? To be at my best during the classics season.”
The UAE Tour and Paris-Nice were also still on Merlier’s schedule before the classics start. But whether he will make those races remains uncertain.
