Tour de France Stage 7 Victory for Merlier; Pogacar Maintains Overall Lead Belgian rider Tim Merlier secured his fourth stage win of the Tour de France on Friday by triumphing in a sprint finish during the seventh stage, while Slovenian cyclist Tadej Pogacar retained the yellow jersey as the race leader. The 175-kilometer (109-mile) route from Hagetmau to Bordeaux, marked by sweltering temperatures of 36 degrees Celsius (97 Fahrenheit), saw Merlier outpace competitors in a thrilling finale. Merlier’s victory was orchestrated by his Soudal Quick-Step team, which positioned him strategically to launch a decisive attack. The sprint unfolded with Frenchman Baptiste Veistroffer and Czech Jakub Otruba initially forming a two-man breakaway, but they were reeled in by the peloton with 18 kilometers remaining. As teams maneuvered to place their sprinters in contention, veteran Mathieu van der Poel and Jasper Philipsen engaged in a late surge. Philipsen briefly led with 250 meters left but was overtaken by Merlier, who crossed the line first. Norwegian Soren Waerenskjold claimed second place, and Eritrean Biniam Girmay finished third. The stage’s outcome underscored the dominance of sprinters in the race, with Merlier’s win adding to his growing reputation as a formidable contender. Meanwhile, Pogacar, the reigning champion, maintained his overall lead despite a challenging day. The 28-year-old Slovenian rider finished safely in the main pack, staying ahead of his closest rival, Jonas Vinegaard, by 2 minutes and 42 seconds. Pogacar’s position as leader was solidified after reclaiming the yellow jersey in the high mountains of the Pyrenees during Thursday’s sixth stage.#tadej_pogacar #mathieu_van_der_poel #jasper_philipsen #tim_merlier #soudal_quick_step
