Highlights: Merlier makes it back-to-back stage wins with incredible sprint
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Tim Merlier continued his remarkable run, claiming his second consecutive sprint victory on Stage 8 after a dramatic finale in Bergerac.
The Soudal Quick-Step rider timed his effort perfectly, producing a powerful late surge to come through the field and deny his rivals in a chaotic bunch sprint. Biniam Girmay (NSN Cycling) finished second, with Olav Kooij (Decathlon-CMA CGM) rounding out the podium.
After two consecutive sprint finishes passed without major GC drama, Pogacar said an understanding had been reached among the yellow jersey contenders to stay away from the most chaotic areas of the peloton during the final kilometres.
The approach mirrors the strategy used by Visma-Lease a Bike, who have encouraged other GC teams to sit further back in the bunch during sprint stages to protect Jonas Vingegaard from the dangers of crowded lead-out trains. Alongside the introduction of the 5km safety rule on flat finishes, the tactic has helped reduce the pressure on the overall contenders.
Speaking after the opening week of racing, Pogacar said the calmer finales had been welcomed after a demanding start to the race.
“So far so good, I can’t complain. The Grand Depart was amazing with the Barcelona team time trial, then some hard days when the GC settles in a little bit – I think it’s always good, so it’s less chaotic on the first days,” Pogacar said.
‘One I’m going to remember for a long time’ – Merlier on impressive Stage 8 win
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“Today and yesterday were easier days, which were much appreciated after the hard Tourmalet stage and all the hot days as well.
“I must also say that the 5km rule makes quite a big difference in the sprint stages because now there’s kind of an agreement that we sit in the back, the GC riders, and we keep calm, and it’s much less stressful.
“There’s always going to be a possibility for crashes, but I think we managed pretty well. So, thanks to all the GC contenders as well for this respect. So far, it’s one of the most enjoyable Tours, except for the heat.”
The 180.4km stage from Perigueux to Bergerac followed a familiar sprint-stage script, with an early breakaway controlled by the peloton before the race came back together for the expected showdown between the fast men.
Despite the pressure and heat affecting the opening week of the Tour, the general classification contenders once again avoided trouble, allowing Pogacar to retain the yellow jersey with his advantage over Vingegaard unchanged.
Merlier’s victory strengthened his position among the dominant sprinters of the opening stages, as he closed the gap further on Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek) in the battle for the green jersey.
With the race now moving towards more demanding terrain and continued extreme temperatures, Stage 9 has been shortened after a red heatwave alert was issued, the focus will shift back towards the overall contenders after a relatively calm day for the GC favourites.
Pogacar also warned that the extreme temperatures continue to present a major challenge, with riders forced to carefully manage their energy and recovery throughout the race.
”Tomorrow’s stage we cannot expect anything less than around 35 to 40°C again, and also it will be a tough day for the stage victory definitely,” the Slovenian continued.
“We have to be ready as a team, and I think we are. So we keep the same motto, go day by day, keep cooling the body and trying to survive each stage.”
‘We are in for a hard day’ – Could Pogacar give yellow jersey away on Stage 9?
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Pogacar enters the next stage of the Tour in a strong position in the battle for yellow, with long-time rival Vingegaard among those trying to close the gap as the race heads towards the mountains.
Asked about the riders who could challenge him in the overall standings, the four-time champion refused to single out one particular rival but believes the toughest tests are still to come.
“I think it’s hard to pick one because the second group on the Tourmalet stage, they are all big contenders for the victory, and you never know who finds the best legs in some of the hardest stages,” Pogacar added.
“So it’s hard to predict, but I need to keep an eye on all of this group, all of the top 10, top 15 riders.
“It’s always tricky, especially after the first week; it’s really hard to predict, but they are all class riders, and we are going to see some big battles in the next mountain stages for sure. I’m looking forward to discovering who is going to be the toughest one to match.”
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