Tim Merlier and the touching dedication to Wouter Weylandt

Tim Merlier’s words after the triumph 

Tim Merlier, bearer of the Soudal Quick-Step, has won the third stage of the Giro d'Italia 107, which goes from Novara to Fossano and è is 166 km long, burning in the sprint the azzurro Jonathan Milan (Lidl-Trek) and the Eritrean Biniam Girmay (Intermarché – Wanty).

"I am happy to have won because" I don’t think there are too many opportunities for sprinters and you have to take them all – he stressed in the press conference -. Today" was also a" strange day, first a breakaway with many sprinters and then in the final the counterattack of the ranking men".

"I didn't see the action of Tadej Pogacar and Geraint Thomas, I was too far back on the last breakaway and too busy to get back to the top positions – added the Belgian rider – Maybe we upset them. Many people wondered if I could have held on, I è liked to answer with facts".

"I was 18 years old when è Wouter Weylandt died at the Giro (in 2011), but I remember everything as if it happened yesterday. I dedicated my first stage win at the Giro to him in 2021 and repeated the same celebration today. Our Sports Director Iljo Keisse, who was his best friend, è here at the race, and è it is important for us to keep his memory alive" Merlier, who dedicated the victory to Wouter Weylandt, commented.