Tour de France: Tim Merlier claims second stage win in 24 hours

Belgian sprinter Tim Merlier achieved a remarkable feat on Saturday, claiming his second stage victory in the Tour de France 2026 within a mere 24-hour period. The Soudal Quick-Step rider powered to the win on the 8th stage in Bergerac, following his triumph the previous day in Bordeaux.

Merlier's victory was hard-fought. Despite being momentarily boxed in during the final sprint, he skillfully navigated the peloton to find an opening. He surged past his rivals in the closing meters, ultimately crossing the finish line with a bike length's advantage. Eritrea's Biniam Girmay and the Netherlands' Olav Kooij finished second and third, respectively.

The stage, which took place under hot weather conditions, saw no significant changes among the overall classification leaders. Slovenian cyclist Tadej Pogacar, riding for UAE, successfully defended his yellow jersey. He continues to lead the general classification with a comfortable margin of 2 minutes and 42 seconds over his closest competitor, Denmark's Jonas Vingegaard of Visma-Lease a Bike.