Overview
- Tim Merlier won Stage 7 of the Tour de France on Friday, taking his fourth career Tour stage and finishing about a bike length ahead of Soren Waerenskjold with Binian Girmay third.
- Soudal‑Quick Step controlled the 175km run from Hagetmau in very hot conditions and used a staged lead‑out from riders including Jasper Stuyven and Dylan van Baarle to place Merlier for the final burst.
- The bunch sprint produced no change to the overall standings, with Tadej Pogacar remaining in the yellow jersey and Mads Pedersen holding the green points jersey.
- Merlier said he had been worried about limited sprint opportunities on this Tour, and the Bordeaux win eased pressure on his campaign for the next chances.
- The race moves on to another flat stage toward Perigueux and Bergerac where teams will again manage heat, feeding and cooling to hunt the scarce remaining sprint opportunities.