Tim Merlier of the Soudal-Quick Step team secured victory in the seventh stage of the Tour de France in Bordeaux, concluding a 175.1km flat route from Hagetmau. This win marks a significant achievement for Merlier, who has now claimed a stage victory in each of his three participations in the Tour de France.
Merlier executed his sprint perfectly in the final 100 metres, overcoming fellow Belgian Jasper Philipsen. Following his win, Merlier expressed relief, noting the pressure he felt. He mentioned a team meeting where the CEO, Jurgen Forë, had placed considerable pressure on him. Merlier also highlighted the challenges of the current season, including a knee injury that delayed his start until late March and the absence of his lead-out man, Bert Van Lerberghe, who abandoned the race on the Col du Tourmalet.
Despite these hurdles, Merlier’s performance demonstrated his sprinting capabilities, which he had confirmed earlier in the season by winning Scheldeprijs. He acknowledged the difficulty of the current Tour route, which offers fewer opportunities for sprinters compared to previous years. Merlier noted that after a third-place finish in an earlier sprint stage, he realized there were limited chances remaining for the fast men.
Pogacar maintains overall lead
While Merlier celebrated his stage win, Tadej Pogacar of UAE Team Emirates-XRG retained the overall lead, wearing the yellow jersey. Pogacar’s dominant performance in Thursday’s mountain stage to Gavarnie-Gèdre, which included a masterclass on the Col du Tourmalet, established a substantial lead over his rival, Jonas Vingegaard. Pogacar currently holds an advantage of two minutes and 38 seconds over Vingegaard.
The peloton experienced a quieter day as the Tour moved away from the Pyrenees, allowing riders to process Pogacar’s earlier display of strength. Many in the cycling community are questioning the implications of Pogacar’s current form, with some suggesting that victory is already assured for him unless unforeseen circumstances like a crash or illness occur. The conversation among observers has shifted towards the battle for second and third place in the general classification.
Geraint Thomas, now director of racing at Netcompany Ineos, described Pogacar’s attack over the Col du Tourmalet as “super-impressive.” Thomas, who finished third in the Tour in 2022, noted that while Pogacar had a 30-second lead over Vingegaard at the top of the Tourmalet, the subsequent descent and valley terrain favored Pogacar, leading to an increased gap. Thomas also raised questions about Vingegaard’s preparation, specifically his participation in the Giro d’Italia before the Tour.
Rivalry and team dynamics
Thomas suggested that Vingegaard’s podium finish in Paris might be at risk due to other strong riders in close contention, including Remco Evenepoel, Pogacar’s teammate Isaac del Toro, and Paul Seixas. He believes that securing second place for Del Toro could become a significant objective for UAE Team Emirates-XRG.
Meanwhile, tensions surfaced within the Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe team involving Evenepoel and his teammate Florian Lipowitz. Following Thursday’s stage, Evenepoel expressed anger over not receiving a requested lead-out from Lipowitz. He stated that the incident would need thorough discussion. However, team manager Ralph Denk downplayed the disagreement, attributing it to a language barrier and the heat of the moment after a demanding mountain stage. Denk indicated that the rift was exaggerated and that the riders had since reconciled.
Thomas, however, appreciated Evenepoel’s candidness, viewing it as beneficial for promoting the sport. Pogacar’s previous Grand Tour winning margins include the 2024 Giro d’Italia, which he won by almost 10 minutes, and the 2024 Tour, where he beat Vingegaard by more than six minutes. Pogacar has stated that he feels physically and mentally stronger than in 2022, when he experienced a notable collapse on the Col du Granon. He also highlighted improvements in his nutrition and hydration strategies.
Matt White, sports director at the Movistar team, commented on Pogacar’s current form, suggesting he will aim to help Del Toro secure a podium spot. White described Pogacar as relaxed and confident, noting that his current level is exceptional. The race continues on Saturday with a 180.4km route from Perigueux to Bergerac, another stage anticipated to favor a sprint finish.
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Source: theguardian.com
