For 32-year-old Merlier, it is his 59th professional victory, his ninth this season. Earlier this season, the Belgian Sprinter won the Scheldesprijs, the Brussels Cycling Classic and two rides in Paris-Nice, the UAE Tour and the Alula Tour. Merlier also showed himself the fastest on the walker in Knokke-Heist last year. The Colombian Juan Sebastian Molano (Uae Emirates-XRG) finished second, for the Brit Ethan Vernon (Israel Prime Minister Tech), who became third.
Tomorrow the Sprinters will be again in the second stage of 194.4 kilometers between Beringen and Putte. On Friday there is an individual time trial of 9.7 kilometers in Tessenderlo-Ham on the program.