Tim Merlier wins Stage 7 in Bordeaux as Pogacar retains yellow jersey

Stage 7 of the 2026 Tour de France ran from Hagetmau to Bordeaux over 175 km of almost flat terrain. In a classic mass‑sprint, Belgium’s Tim Merlier (Soudal Quick‑Step) claimed his fourth Tour stage victory, beating Norway’s Søren Waerenskjold and Eritrea’s Biniam Girmay, who finished second and third. Jasper Philipsen was fifth and Germany’s Max Kanter fourth. Mads Pedersen finished ninth but extended his lead in the points classification for the green jersey.

General‑classification leader Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) stayed safely in the peloton and kept the yellow jersey, remaining 2 min 42 s ahead of Denmark’s Jonas Vingegaard, with Mexico’s Isaac del Toro in third. A breakaway by France’s Baptiste Veistroffer and Czech Jakub Otruba was caught 18 km from the finish; Veistroffer was named the most combative rider. The day was hot, with temperatures around 38 °C in Bordeaux, but the stage produced no changes in the overall standings. Merlier said, “I’m delighted to get another victory… thanks to the team, we made it.”