Stage 7, heading to Bordeaux, smiled on sprinters, as the capital of Aquitaine often does on the roads of the Tour de France. Tim Merlier (Soudal Quick-Step) dominated his rivals in the bunch gallop, taking his fourth victory in the event after previous successes in 2021 and 2025. He claims Belgium’s 24th victory in Bordeaux, confirming the nation’s supremacy in the city just three years after Jasper Philipsen conquered it. This time, the Alpecin-Premier Tech sprinter had to settle for fifth place, while Soren Waerenskjold (Uno-X Mobility) and Biniam Girmay (NSN) completed the day’s top three. Merlier’s success means the Wolfpack have now won stages in every edition of the Tour since 2013. Tadej Pogacar (UAE Emirates-XRG) survived the traps of the day to retain the Maillot Jaune on the eve of another flat stage to Bergerac.
After surviving the final Pyrenees showdown, sprinters eye their second opportunity of the Tour de France, a couple of days after Olav Kooij's victory in Pau. From Hagetmau to Bordeaux, the route is mostly flat, with just 850 metres of elevation gain (the lowest value in this Tour, excluding time trials). Côte de Béguey (cat. 4) is the only categorised ascent of the day, with its summit 37.8 kilometres from the finish.
Veistroffer is not alone
A 176-man peloton roll from Hagetmau in the absence of Torstein Træen (Uno-X Mobility) who doesn't start on the day after he crashed while defending the Maillot Jaune.
Just like he did en route to Pau, Baptiste Veistroffer (Lotto Intermarché) attacks as soon as the flag drops on the roads of the Landes department, a department associated with André Darrigade, whose tally of 22 Tour stage wins was surpassed the day before by Tadej Pogacar. The French baroudeur was alone two days befoearlierre. This time, he is joined at the front by Jake Otruba (Caja Rural-Seguros RGA) as they head to Mont-de-Marsan (km 25.9), Luis Ocaña’s adopted hometown.
Tim Merlier’s Soudal Quick-Step and Jasper Philipsen’s Alpecin-Premier Tech rapidly take the reins of the bunch to control the breakaway. The gap never gets higher than 1’35’’ (km 87). Given the tight situation, Uno-X Mobility and a handful of counter-attackers try to bridge the gap but they’ are rapidly neutralised.
Sprinters’ teams unite
Olav Kooij’s Decathlon CMA CGM and Biniam Girmay’s NSN also participate in the chase, although Soudal Quick-Step and Alpecin-Premier Tech are the most active at the front of the bunch. The latter can draw confidence from the last stage finish in Bordeaux, in 2023, when Philipsen powered to his fifth Tour win ahead of Mark Cavendish, the previous winner (in 2010) in a city that often smiles on sprinters.
Veistroffer is first across the intermediate sprint in Landiras (km 120.2), where Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek) gets the better of his rivals for the green jersey. The French baroudeur is also first atop the Côte de Béguey (km 137.3). He receives the combativity award for the second time in three days.
Merlier flies past Philipsen
Veistroffer and Otruba are eventually reeled in 18 kilometres away from the finish line. Anders Skaarseth and Jonas Abrahamsen (Uno-X Mobility) launch a couple more attacks, but sprinters’ teams react well to stay in control all the way to Bordeaux.
Alpecin-Premier Tech enter the final kilometre in the lead. Jasper Philipsen is still at the front when he opens up his sprint, with just over 200 metres to go. But he’s rapidly passed as his former teammate Tim Merlier flies past to take his fourth stage win in the Tour ahead of Soren Waersenkjold (Uno-X Mobility) and Biniam Girmay (NSN). With this new success, Soudal Quick-Step have now won in every Tour since 2013, with a total of 40 victories across 14 editions.
