Tim Merlier sprinted to victory on stage seven of the Tour de France in Bordeaux as Tadej Pogacar stayed safe in the yellow jersey.
Soudal-QuickStep’s Merlier was several places back on the final approach but picked his moment to charge past Jasper Philipsen and take his fourth career Tour stage win in a scrappy finish.
As riders bumped shoulders Alpecin-Premier Tech’s Philipsen, the winner the last time the Tour visited Bordeaux in 2023, opened up early after being dropped off by lead-out man Mathieu van der Poel more than 250 metres from the line, running out of steam as he finished fifth.
Soren Waerenskjold was second just ahead of Biniam Girmay.
“It was a mess to be in position,” Merlier said of the fight for space on the road. “I made it thanks to the team, great work from all of them…
“For a long time I could follow Jasper, then I lost him and I was boxed away. I needed to get back to Jasper, I got a bit more space and time to give the legs a bit of air. In the last 600m we were again boxing again so I thought to myself I’m going to fight to the finish and I’m happy I can take it.
“I feel really well. It’s only my third Tour de France and in every participation I think I’ve won so it makes me proud.”
The flat 175km stage from Hagetmau, only the second sprint opportunity of the Tour so far, offered riders some respite after their early visit to the Pyrenees, with all eyes focused on long straight run to the finish line in Bordeaux.
The sprint meant no change in the general classification, with Pogacar able to have a more relaxed day after his exploits on the Tourmalet underlined his status as favourite for what would be a record-equalling fifth Tour de France crown.
The Slovenian continues to lead by two minutes 42 seconds from rival Jonas Vingegaard, with Pogacar’s UAE Team Emirates-XRG team-mate Isaac del Toro three minutes 27 seconds down in third, three seconds ahead of Remco Evenepoel.
PA
