Soudal Quick-Step rode a perfect race Sunday, bringing to a conclusion the Tour de Hongrie on a high
17-May-2026: Tim Merlier made it five victories in just nine days of racing this season after one of the most entertaining races of the season, the fifth and final stage of the Tour de Hongrie. By taking the win in Veszprem, the 33-year-old Belgian sealed the points classification, which he led from the opening day.
It was a brilliant display from our team, who made sure of being present in all the key moments of the day, the first of which was an echelon that formed inside 25 kilometers to go. Martin Svrcek, who had been incredibly strong the whole week, working tirelessly at the front of the peloton, booked a place in the small front group that emerged and opened a 25-second gap on the peloton.
The young Slovak produced a solid outing there, taking some long pulls and launching back-to-back accelerations in the final two kilometers, when the bunch was closing in. It took a colossal effort from the field for the catch to happen just 500 meters from the line, and only a few seconds later, Alberto Dainese tried to surprise the other fast men with a cunning attack. The Italian’s move didn’t succeed, but it opened the door for a Tim Merlier victory – his 46th in a stage race.
“It was a good week for us, with three stage victories and a nice GC result. Today we were able to try multiple times with different riders and we can be happy with the outcome and the team spirit displayed. Winning the green jersey is a nice bonus, one that makes me happy. Hats off to my teammates the for their effort, not just today, but the whole week, they were amazing”, Tim Merlier said after the seventh points classification win in the pro ranks.
In the general classification, Junior Lecerf kept his fourth place and racked up the seventh top ten of his career in a stage race, and the second of the season, after the one at the Tour de Romandie, just a couple of weeks ago.
