​BERGERAC, France (AP) — Belgian cyclist Tim Merlier sprinted to victory in the eighth stage of the Tour de France, seizing back-to-back stage wins as defending champion Tadej Pogacar held onto the race leader’s yellow jersey on Saturday. Pogacar, who has four career Tours, crossed the finish with the main peloton alongside fellow former winner Jonas Vingegaard, preserving a 2 minute, 42 second advantage over his closest rival. Pogacar’s teammate Isaac del Toro trailed in third in the overall standings.
Stage 8 spanned 180 kilometers (112 miles), routing the riders from Périgueux to the southeastern city of Bergerac amid intense heat as another heatwave pressed on the riders. For the second successive day, Mathieu van der Poel intensified the pace to help his teammate Jasper Philipsen position at the front, yet their early attack came too soon. Merlier timed his sprint to perfection, capturing a fifth career stage win in cycling’s marquee event.
In a podium arrangement, Eritrean sprinter Biniam Girmay finished in second place, with Dutch rider Olav Kooij claiming third. The stage concluded in 3 hours, 52 minutes, and 50 seconds.
Stage 9 is scheduled for Sunday and will take the riders on a hilly route from Malemort to Ussel, located in central France. After that, the Tour’s traditional finish in Paris remains on the calendar, with the final stage ending on July 26.
AP sports coverage continues to follow the race as it moves toward its climactic phases. For further sports updates, visit AP News Sports.