Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Deceuninck) and the Dutchman Olav Kooij (Visma-Lease a Bike) complete the day’s podium. Three other Belgians finished in the top 10 of the stage: Lionel Taminiaux (Lotto Dstny) fifth, Edward Theuns (Lidl-Trek) eighth and Gerben Thijssen (Intermarché-Wanty) ninth.
In the general classification, Waerenskjold maintains the lead with 2 seconds ahead of the Czech Mathias Vacek (Lidl-Trek) and 13 over Rune Herregodts (Intermarché-Wanty). Alec Segaert (Lotto Dstny) and Jasper Stuyven (Lidl-Trek), respectively fourth at 15 seconds and fifth at 17 seconds, are the other two Belgian riders in the top 10.
Merlier signed the 45th victory of his career and already the eleventh of his season after winning, among other things, three stages on the Tour of Italy and the UAE Tour as well as two stages on the AlUla Tour but also the Grand Prix of the Scheldt.
16 kilometers from the finish, Thimo Willems (VolkerWessels Cycling) was unlucky when he suffered a puncture. Ten kilometers from the finish, three ‘golden kilometers’ were at stake. Soren Waerenskjold won the first while Vacek took the second and the Frenchman Benoit Cosnefroy (Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale) the third. In the final straight, Merlier launched a sprint to win in front of his competitors.
The third stage will take place on Friday between Turnhout and Montaigu-Zichem over 188.3 km with three light climbs: Het Rot (1 km at 2.5% average), Roeselberg (1 km at 4.3% average) and Kerkstraat (0.7 km at 3.7% average).
