Soudal-QuickStep have been preparing slightly differently from the other WorldTour teams this off-season, with riders Tim Merlier, Yves Lampaert and the departing Tim Declercq among those competing in a snowy beach race in Bredene last weekend.
Merlier dramatically won the race after narrowly avoiding a quadbike going into the final corner. He was forced to dismount and run with his bike to the line, only besting journalist and rider Thijs Zonneveld by the barest of margins.
