They were just two kids from Wortegem, riding bikes after school, never dreaming they’d one day end up in the pro peloton together.In this episode of the Castelli Podcast, we sit down with Belgian sprint sensation Tim Merlier and his lifelong friend and trusted lead-out man Bert Van Lerberghe, a duo bonded by years of shared rides, muddy cyclocross circuits, and quiet ambition.From their humble beginnings to the world’s biggest races, Tim and Bert take us inside their journey—through the chaos of sprint stages, the grit of gravel racing, and the deep trust that powers their performance in the pro peloton. They open up about what it means to represent Belgium, the Castelli gear that gets them through the toughest days, and the unspoken connection that only two decades of friendship can build.This is more than a story about speed. It’s a story about growing up together, daring to dream late, and discovering that the best victories are the ones you chase side by side.Chapters00:00 Intro02:38 Tim Merlier’s Journey06:26 Bert Van Lerberghe’s Journey09:02 Amateur Belgian Cycling13:20 Gravel Racing16:40 Bert’s Strengths and Weaknesses19:22 Tim’s Strengths and Weaknesses20:37 Rapid Fire Round of Questions20:45 First Castelli Memory21:49 Favorite Castelli Winter Product23:39 Dream Races to Win One Day27:32 Rapid Fire36:10 The Wolfpack Team Dynamics36:43 Ending– LINKS –⁠⁠Tim Merlier⁠⁠⁠⁠Bert Van Lerberghe⁠⁠Host: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Soren Jensen⁠⁠⁠⁠SEND US YOUR QUESTIONSIf you want your questions to be answered on air, be sure to submit your questions by sending us a message on social media or by email to⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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