Tim Merlier wins Omloop van het Houtland for second consecutive year

Tim Merlier, riding for Soudal Quick-Step, has secured his second consecutive victory at the Omloop van het Houtland. The Belgian sprinter won the 80th edition of the race, which spanned 189.6 kilometers between Zedelgem and Lichtervelde.

Following a mass sprint in Lichtervelde, Merlier finished ahead of Poland’s Stanisław Aniołkowski of Cofidis, who took second place, and the Netherlands’ Dylan Groenewegen of Unibet Rose Rockets, who finished third. This win marks Merlier’s 12th victory of the 2026 season.

The race was characterized by a predominantly flat course where professional teams had to manage two early breakaways. Despite efforts from riders like Anders Foldager and Joseph Brookes to disrupt the rhythm, the peloton successfully neutralized the attackers within the final ten kilometers, setting the stage for the decisive sprint.