Tim Merlier claimed his fourth career Tour de France stage victory on Friday, winning stage seven in Bordeaux with a powerful late sprint beside the Garonne river.
The Soudal Quick-Step sprinter waited longer than his main rivals before launching into a headwind. His timing proved decisive after a tense run-in through the Landes and Gironde regions.
Tim Merlier waits before decisive sprint
Alpecin-Premier Tech appeared to have the sprint under control inside the final kilometre. Mathieu van der Poel moved to the front with about 600 metres remaining and began his effort roughly 100 metres later.
That acceleration forced Jasper Philipsen to open his sprint earlier than ideal. Merlier stayed tucked in fifth wheel, behind Biniam Girmay of NSN Cycling and Fernando Gaviria of Caja Rural.
Van der Poel pulled away from the lead with 250 metres to go, leaving Philipsen exposed in the wind. Merlier then came out of the slipstream around 150 metres from the line and surged past.
Søren Wærenskjold of Uno-X Mobility finished second, with Girmay taking third. Max Kanter placed fourth for XDS Astana, ahead of Philipsen in fifth.
Merlier said positioning had been difficult but credited Soudal Quick-Step for keeping him in contention. He described the finale as chaotic and said he was proud that, ‘in every participation I take a win.’
Breakaway kept on a short leash
The day’s early move featured only two riders, underlining the control held by the sprint teams. Jakob Otruba of Caja Rural and Baptiste Veistroffer of Intermarché Lotto were allowed to ride clear.
Their advantage reached one minute 38 seconds, but the peloton never let the move threaten the stage. Alpecin-Premier Tech and Soudal Quick-Step managed the front, with occasional support from Decathlon CMA CGM.
Decathlon CMA CGM also had broader ambitions through Paul Seixas in the general classification. However, Olav Kooij’s stage five win into Pau meant the team also contributed to the chase.
Otruba and Veistroffer worked together through another hot day in the saddle. After one final acceleration from Veistroffer, the pair sat up and shook hands with 20 kilometres remaining.
Bordeaux finale sets up sprinters
The bunch took several more kilometres to lift the pace after the catch. As the roads tightened into Bordeaux, Alpecin-Premier Tech, Soudal Quick-Step and Cofidis moved their sprint trains forward.
Netcompany Ineos led into the city as the road narrowed, setting up for Dorian Godon. The peloton reached the three-kilometre marker safely, allowing much of the bunch to ease out of the fight.
From there, around 40 riders formed the sharp end of the race. Merlier remained patient while others moved early, then delivered the fastest finish on the day.
Stage seven top 10
- 1. Tim Merlier (Bel) Soudal Quick-Step, 3:44:20
- 2. Søren Wærenskjold (Nor) Uno-X Mobility, same time
- 3. Biniam Girmay (Eri) NSN Cycling, same time
- 4. Max Kanter (Ger) XDS Astana, same time
- 5. Jasper Philipsen (Bel) Alpecin-Premier Tech, same time
- 6. Phil Bauhaus (Ger) Bahrain Victorious, same time
- 7. Huub Artz (Ned) Lotto Intermarché, same time
- 8. Dorian Godon (Fra) Netcompany Ineos, same time
- 9. Mads Pedersen (Den) Lidl-Trek, same time
- 10. Tom Van Asbroeck (Bel) NSN Cycling, same time
General classification after stage seven
Tadej Pogačar led the overall standings after the stage, holding a lead of 2:42 over Jonas Vingegaard. Isaac del Toro sat third at 3:27.
- 1. Tadej Pogačar (Slo) UAE Team Emirates-XRG, 24:56:17
- 2. Jonas Vingegaard (Den) Visma-Lease a Bike, +2:42
- 3. Isaac del Toro (Mex) UAE Team Emirates-XRG, +3:27
- 4. Remco Evenepoel (Bel), +3:30
- 5. Juan Ayuso (Esp) Lidl-Trek, +3:34
- 6. Paul Seixas (Fra) Decathlon CMA CGM, +3:55
- 7. Florian Lipowitz (Ger) Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe, +4:00
- 8. Lenny Martinez (Fra) Bahrain Victorious, +4:21
- 9. Mattias Skjelmose (Den) Lidl-Trek, +4:57
- 10. Mathias Vacek (Cze) Lidl-Trek, +7:10