Tim Merlier powered to victory in a bunch sprint finish on stage seven of the Tour de France as Tadej Pogacar retained the overall lead.

Norway’s Soren Waerenskjold crossed the line in second with Eritrea’s Biniam Girmay in third at the end of the flat 175.1km route from Hagetmau to Bordeaux.

Belgium’s Merlier judged his effort to perfection in the final 100 metres, reeling in compatriot Jasper Philipsen and then simply having too much pace for his rivals.

“It was a mess to be in position, but I made it thanks to the team,” Merlier said.

“We were the only team with Alpecin who were riding to take the breakaway back, so I’m happy it’s not another team who win. It’s only my third Tour de France. In every participation, I take a win, it makes me proud.”

Merlier’s three previous stage wins in cycling’s greatest race arrived in 2021 and 2025.

In both years, Slovenia’s Pogacar ended winning the general classification and again he remains the man to beat this time around.

Having delivered a masterclass on the Col du Tourmalet on Thursday, there was very little to bother Pogacar on Friday as he held on to his advantage of two minutes and 38 seconds over Jonas Vingegaard.

Pogacar’s UAE Team Emirates-XRG team-mate Isaac del Toro sits a further 45 seconds back in third.

Norway’s Torstein Traeen pulled out of the Tour on Thursday as a result of the heavy crash he suffered while in the yellow jersey.

On Saturday, the race travels 180.4km from Perigueux to Bergerac on another day that is designed for a sprint finish.

1. Tim Merlier (Bel/Soudal Quick-Step) 3hrs 44mins 20secs

2. Soren Waerenskjold (Nor/Uno-X Mobility) Same time

3. Biniam Girmay (Eri/NSN Cycling) “

4. Max Kanter (Ger/XDS Astana) “

5. Jasper Philipsen (Bel/Alpecin-Premier Tech) “

6. Phil Bauhaus (Ger/Bahrain Victorious) “

7. Huub Artz (Ned/Lotto Intermarche) “

8. Dorian Godon (Fra/Netcompany Ineos) “

9. Mads Pedersen (Den/Lidl-Trek) “

10. Tom van Asbroeck (Bel/NSN Cycling) “

1. Tadej Pogacar (Slo/UAE Team Emirates-XRG) 24hrs 56mins 17secs

2. Jonas Vingegaard (Den/Visma-Lease a Bike) +2mins 42secs

3. Isaac del Toro (Mex/UAE Team Emirates-XRG) +3:27

4. Remco Evenepoel (Bel/Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) +3:30

5. Juan Ayuso (Spa/Lidl-Trek) +3:34

6. Paul Seixas (Fra/Decathlon-CMA CGM) +3:55

7. Florian Lipowitz (Ger/Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) +4:00

8. Lenny Martinez (Fra/Bahrain-Victorious) +4:21

9. Mattias Skjelmose (Den/Lidl-Trek) +4:57

10. Mathias Vacek (Cze/Lidl-Trek) +7:10