Quick Step Alphavinir has announced the signings of Tim Merlier, Jan Hilt, and Casper Pedersen for the 2023 season as part of a roster reshuffle.

Merlier joins from Alpecin Deceuninck and will fill the sprinter slot vacated by Mark Cavendish, who is leaving the team after this season. Fabio Jacobsen was selected as a sprinter for Quick-Step Alfa Vinyl at the Tour de France, winning the opening road stage.

The 29-year-old Mellier won the Belgian national title this year, as well as stages at the Classique Brugge des Pannes, Nokelle Coase, and Tirreno Adriatico. Last season he won stages at the Tour and Giro d'Italia, but did not compete in the 2022 Grand Tour.

The experienced Hilt joins after the best season of his career at Intermarque Wantigover. The Czech won the Tour of Oman earlier in the campaign before taking a solo victory in Aprica in the final week of the Giro.

Hilt has previously raced in the CCC and Astana, and his addition further strengthens the climbing support around Lemko Evenpoel.

The trio's deal will be completed by 2020 Paris-Tour winner Casper Pedersen. The Dane will be part of the DSM team starting in 2019 and previously raced for Aqua Blue Sport. He will be part of the Quick Step sprint train.

"We are really happy with the business we have done and with the acquisition of three quality riders to strengthen our team in the coming years," director Patrick Lefevere said in a statement on Thursday.

"I think my admiration for Tim is well known and it is great to have two Belgian national champion jerseys back in the Wolfpack.

Lefebvre compared Pedersen to countryman Mikhail Morkov, saying he shares "many similar traits" with the lead out man, while highlighting Hilt's ability as a climber. Leferet said, "He has the talent to get results for himself, but he also works hard for the rest of the field."

Lefebvre's team will race under the Sürdal Quickstep banner starting in 2023. Jacobsen and Kasper Asgreen will also stay with the team, but Lefebvre allowed Cavendish to leave Quick-Step after this season.