Cycling news
Merlier wins Tour stage seven as Pogacar keeps Tour lead
Tim Merlier won a crowded stage seven sprint in Bordeaux, beating Soren Waerenskjold, while Pogacar retained the Tour de France lead.
Merlier takes the sprint in Bordeaux
Tim Merlier gave Soudal Quick-Step a Tour de France stage win in Bordeaux, coming through a crowded sprint to take stage seven. The Belgian beat Soren Waerenskjold to the line after a fast final charge, making the day a straightforward sprint headline rather than a race-control story.
That matters because stages like this are often defined less by who is strongest in isolation and more by who can stay positioned when the finish compresses. A crowded sprint rewards timing, nerve, and a clear run to the line. Merlier getting the better of Waerenskjold indicates he handled that final chaos cleanly when the race speed was highest.
Pogacar remains in control
The broader Tour picture did not shift at the top, with Pogacar retaining the lead. That keeps the stage result and the overall race narrative neatly separated: Merlier takes the day, while the leader exits Bordeaux without losing his position.
Full details are at the linked CNA source.
Source: CNA