‘I kept getting punched around’: Tim Merlier explains chaotic sprint after dominant Tour de France victory

Tim Merlier delivered a dominant sprint to win Stage 7 of the 2026 Tour de France in Bordeaux, claiming the fourth Tour stage victory of his career. The Soudal Quick-Step rider surged past Jasper Philipsen and the rest of the field after fighting through a chaotic and physical finale.

A bunch sprint had always looked highly likely on the seventh stage of the Tour de France, and the fast men duly decided the winner in Bordeaux. Tim Merlier was comfortably the quickest, converting his second clear sprint opportunity of this year’s Tour into victory for Soudal Quick-Step.

Alpecin-Premier Tech appeared to have the best-organised lead-out in the closing kilometres, but Jasper Philipsen eventually had to settle for fifth place. Merlier launched from behind his fellow Belgian with enormous speed and powered clear to win by a convincing margin. It was the fourth Tour de France stage victory of Merlier’s career. The interviewer initially called it his third during the flash interview.“only for the Belgian to correct him in French: “Quatre.” “I don’t know whether I timed it perfectly because I launched my sprint with—I don’t even know how far there was still to go,” Merlier said as he analysed the finish.

“It was a mess trying to get into position, but I managed it thanks to my team. They did a fantastic job. That also applies to all the hard work two days ago, when we and Alpecin were the only teams that wanted to ride and bring the breakaway back. I’m very happy.”

Merlier also thanked Jasper Stuyven, who played an important role in the lead-out. The pair initially stayed together, although Merlier briefly lost his teammate in the hectic battle for position. “I was able to follow him for a long time, but at one point I lost him,” Merlier explained. “I was in a casino where I kept getting punched out of position. I had to get back to Jasper. Then I found a little more space and was able to give my legs some air.”

Even after reconnecting with Stuyven, the finale did not go entirely according to plan. “In the final 600 metres, I was being punched around again,” Merlier said. “Then I told myself that I was just going to fight all the way to the finish. I’m very happy to win here.”

The victory was a welcome boost for the experienced Belgian, who has now won a stage in each of his three Tour de France appearances. “I feel really good,” he concluded with a smile. “This is only my third Tour de France. I’ve won a stage every time I’ve participated, so that makes me very proud.”