Richard Carapaz loses ground in Tour de France Stage 7 as Tim Merlier takes sprint victory

Belgian rider Tim Merlier claimed victory in Stage 7 of the Tour de France 2026, crossing the finish line in a thrilling sprint after 175.1 kilometers of racing from Hagetmau to Bordeaux. Merlier, representing Soudal Quick-Step, outpaced Søren Wærenskjold and Biniam Girmay to secure his fourth Tour de France stage win and 73rd career victory.

Ecuadorian cyclists Richard Carapaz and Jefferson Cepeda finished the stage in 156th and 157th positions, both arriving 2 minutes and 49 seconds behind the winner. Despite not achieving a top result, both riders demonstrated determination throughout the demanding stage. Earlier in the day, Mathieu Veistroffer and Jakob Otruba were part of a breakaway that lasted 156 kilometers, only to be caught by the peloton with 18 kilometers remaining.

The stage, considered transitional after the Pyrenees, saw no major shifts in the general classification. Tadej Pogacar maintained his strong lead, comfortably holding the yellow jersey. However, for the Ecuadorian duo, the stage resulted in a loss of ground. Richard Carapaz slipped eight positions in the overall standings, now sitting 24th, 13 minutes and 35 seconds behind Pogacar. Jefferson Cepeda is ranked 76th, over an hour behind the leader.

Looking ahead, Stage 8 on July 11, 2026, will take riders from Périgueux to Bergerac. This route is expected to favor sprinters, offering another opportunity for riders like Merlier to contend for the win and for Carapaz and Cepeda to improve their positions.