Tim Merlier, front, took his eighth win of the season on stage one of the 2021 Benelux Tour ©Getty Images

Tim Merlier triumphed on the opening stage of the Benelux Tour from Surhuisterveen to Dokkum after he broke free from a 30-strong pack in a sprint victory.

The Belgian sprinter held off Germany's Phil Bauhaus in the dash for the line in Dokkum, with Alvaro Hodeg of Colombia taking the final podium spot.

The opening stage of the week-long race saw winds in the northern Netherlands split the race into echelons, which is where riders position themselves alongside each other as protection from crosswinds.

This caused significant time gaps to appear on the first day of racing.

Belgium's Remco Evenepoel had made the front echelon but broke his front wheel with 30 kilometres to go and went on to finish almost a minute behind in a chasing pack that also contained Welshman Geraint Thomas, Tom Dumoulin of the Netherlands and another Belgian in Greg Van Avermaet.

Remco Evenepoel was furious after receiving slow service to help with his broken wheel ©Getty Images
Remco Evenepoel was furious after receiving slow service to help with his broken wheel ©Getty Images

"It was extremely hectic," said Merlier, as reported by Cycling News.

"I don't know how, but it just happened.

"I had to do a sprint for that echelon.

"From then on I knew that I had to play along and not let myself be surprised on the crucial points.

"I felt good in the final, but it was difficult.

"There was also an attack, but Gianni [Vermeersch] was the ideal man for that.

"He could respond to anyone.

"In the end everything worked out and it is a great victory for the team."

Stage two of the Benelux Tour is set to take place tomorrow and is due to be an 11.1 kilometre individual time trial in the Dutch city of Lelystad.

The race is the 26th event of a scheduled 29 on the 2021 International Cycling Union (UCI) WorldTour Calendar.