​Tim Merlier sprinted to victory on stage seven of the Tour de France, finishing in Bordeaux on Friday as Tadej Pogačar maintained the yellow jersey and kept his overall lead intact. Soudal-QuickStep’s Merlier launched his late move on the final approach, overtaking Jasper Philipsen in a tense sprint to claim his fourth Tour stage win of his career. The finish was a scrappy affair, with riders bumping shoulders and jockeying for position as the line approached.
Philipsen, who had won Bordeaux the last time the Tour stopped there in 2023, found himself lingering after a strong lead-out from Mathieu van der Poel. The Alpecin-Premier Tech rider started his dash too early, was dragged back by the peloton, and ultimately faded to fifth as Merlier surged past him in the final meters. Søren Wærenskjold crossed the line in second place, just ahead of Biniam Girmay in third, as the sprint contingent battled for space and speed on the wide, straight finish.
Merlier reflected on the chaotic approach to the finish, noting that the sprint was as much about positioning as raw power. “It was a mess to be in position,” he said, acknowledging the team’s crucial role in setting up the win. “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 600 meters we were again boxing, so I decided to fight to the finish. I’m happy I could take it.” He added with a mix of pride and relief, “I feel really well. It’s only my third Tour de France, and in every participation I’ve had a win, so that makes me proud.”
The stage was a flat 175 kilometers, starting in Hagetmau and marking only the second sprint opportunity of the race thus far. It offered riders a moment of relief after the Tour’s early Pyrenean challenges, with a long, straight run into Bordeaux inviting a high-speed finish. The result did not alter the general classification, as Pogačar entered the day with a substantial lead, and he emerged from the Pyrenees with a renewed sense of confidence ahead of a potential record-equaling fifth title.
Pogačar continues to sit atop the standings, maintaining a two-minute and 42-second advantage over Jonas Vingegaard. Isaac del Toro trails in third, three minutes and 27 seconds behind Pogačar, with Remco Evenepoel one more place back, just three seconds behind del Toro. The Slovenian rider’s lead and form keep him as the primary favorite for the overall victory, with his UAE Team Emirates teammates and rivals keeping a watchful eye as the race progresses toward the mountain stages and decisive finales. Merlier’s win on stage seven adds to a growing tally for Soudal-QuickStep, highlighting the team’s sprinting strength and tactical finesse in a Tour that continues to deliver dramatic finish-line clashes and shifting momentum in the fight for yellow.