Tim Merlier vs Sam Bennett Vuelta 2022 Prediction: Flat Stage Event with Tim Merlier to Win

In the upcoming race event of the Vuelta a Espana, Primoz Roglic will look to become the first ever biker to win the four consecutive seasons of Vuelta a Espana. However, he will be facing much stringent competition in the form of Tim Merlier, Sam Bennett, Mads Pedersen, and Pascal Ackermann. Going in the flat stage event it will kickstart from Hertogenbosch and extend to the plains of Utrecht. In the stage 2 event, we will be seeing riders investing themselves fully in pursuit of taking the lead. However, only the powerful and energetic riders will be able to take the lead in the flat stage event.

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The Utrecht finale will take center stage on stage. From 6.5 to 2 kilometers remaining, the race will pass through some challenging streets outside the center, which will be stressful since crashes there may likely produce group splits. However, the road straightens out in the final two kilometers, with a small inclination to the left in the last kilometer for what ought to be a straightforward sprint finish.

The gutsy Belgian cyclist, who recently finished third at the European Championships, will be the team's greatest chance to win and a top contender in the group sprints. He will have a dedicated support team, with Jimmy Janssens most likely serving as the rider who will assist control breakaways and Lionel Taminiaux and Oscar Riesebeek serving as his lead-out guys.

The sprinter has had a challenging last year due to his reoccurring injuries. The knee injury derailed the second part of his 2021 season, which culminated in a contentious exit from QuickStep. There has only been one victory this year, but it was a noteworthy one at Eschborn-Frankfurt. However, Bennett was not chosen for the Tour de France since Bora-Hansgrohe prioritized the general classification more. Thus, competing in the Vuelta became Bennett's final significant opportunity to have an impact on the season.

Mads Pedersen wasn't anticipated to compete in the Vuelta a Espana, but as Trek - Segafredo unveiled their roster for the season's last Grand Tour, it became clear that the Dane would be the key player for the whole three-week race. Pedersen, who recently won the Tour de France, will not be following the most popular preparation path to the World Championships, even though there are several flat and hilly classics that would be suitable for him. Instead, he will be competing on the roads of Spain, where he will be a strong contender for the sprint stages.

Going in the Flat Stage 2 event, I will be backing the monumental favorite, Tim Merlier to win and grab the win points and the jersey. However, the other probable cyclists will be seen in the top 5 standings of stage 2.

• Tim Merlier Wins - Yes for 2.75
• Sam Bennett Wins - Yes for 4.5
• To Be Higher Tim Merlier/Pascal Ackermann - W1 for 1.4