Tim Merlier Wins Tour de France Stage Eight in Bunch Sprint

Tim Merlier won the eighth stage of the Tour de France on July 11, prevailing in a bunch sprint finish after a flat 180.4 km ride from Périgueux to Bergerac. The Soudal Quick-Step rider launched his move in the final 400 metres to claim his second consecutive stage victory. Biniam Girmay finished second and Olav Kooij took third.

Jasper Philipsen placed fourth. Merlier had also won stage seven the previous day. Tadej Pogacar retained the overall lead. Jonas Vingegaard remained second in the general classification, 2 minutes and 42 seconds behind Pogacar.

Merlier said he nearly crashed before the final corner. "Just before the last corner I was a bit boxed in, then I almost crashed — I thought it was over... With 250 m to go I say, 'I'll give it a try and we will see'," he stated.

An early breakaway of Thibault Guernalec, Jakub Otruba and Liam Slock formed early in the stage, Le Monde reported. Slock attacked alone with about 40 km remaining and spent more than 175 km off the front before being caught 1.3 km from the finish. Merlier moved to within 15 points of Mads Pedersen in the points classification, according to Le Monde.

He has five career Tour de France stage wins. "Three [sprint] stages, I won two. [It's] definitely my Tour de France," Merlier said. Stage nine was shortened by 30 km due to heat risks and will run from Malemort to Ussel.