After missing out on the opening stage of the Baloise Belgium Tour to Biniam Girmay, Tim Merlier (Soudal-Quickstep) was untouchable in the rising sprint to the line in Knokke-Heist on stage 2.
The Belgian easily held off Olav Kooij (Decathlon CMA CGM), while Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Premier Tech) was caught behind Kooij's lead-out man. After nearly giving up on his sprint, Philipsen re-accelerated for third place.