Stage 8 - Merlier makes it two in Bergerac

Tim Merlier (Soudal Quick-Step) won Stage 8 in Bergerac for his second consecutive stage victory, becoming the first back-to-back sprint winner of this Tour. Olav Kooij (Decathlon CMA-CGM) was second; Jonathan Milan (Lidl-Trek) third.

Stage 8 - top 10

• 🏆 Tim Merlier (Soudal Quick-Step) - 4h 09'12", bonus 10"
• Olav Kooij (Decathlon CMA-CGM) - s.t., bonus 6"
• Jonathan Milan (Lidl-Trek) - s.t., bonus 4"
• Max Kanter (XDS Astana) - s.t.
• Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek) - s.t.
• Biniam Girmay (NSN) - s.t.
• Milan Fretin (Cofidis) - s.t.
• Anthony Turgis (TotalEnergies) - s.t.
• Arnaud De Lie (Lotto Intermarché) - s.t.
• Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Premier Tech) - s.t.

GC and jerseys unchanged

The 180.4 km run from Périgueux to Bergerac was the last flat stage before the Massif Central. Pogačar kept yellow at 28h 49'07". Pedersen (228 pts), Pogačar (28 pts KOM), del Toro (white), and Lidl-Trek (team) all kept their jerseys.

Merlier's two in a row

Merlier's lead-out timed the sprint perfectly, putting him in position with 200 m to go. He held off Kooij's late surge by a clear bike length. The Belgian national champion is now level with Milan, Kooij, and Philipsen on stage wins in this Tour and sits second on the green-jersey points table.

Pedersen keeps the gap

Pedersen added another 11 points (5 for 5th + 6 sprint bonus) to his green-jersey tally, taking him to 228 - exactly double Milan's 114. The Belgian's 5th place is enough to keep the gap comfortable heading into the Massif Central.

Combative: Slock

Lennert Slock (Lotto Intermarché) took the day's combativity prize after a long breakaway that lasted 140 km before the sprinters' teams brought it back. The 22-year-old Belgian was visibly emotional at the award ceremony.

What it means for Stage 9

Stage 9 (Malemort → Ussel, 154.6 km, 3,300 m of climbing) is the first hilly stage in the Massif Central. The sprinters' teams will fight to keep the jersey in the group, but a breakaway specialist like Mathieu van der Poel, Julian Alaphilippe, or Bauke Mollema could take the day. The GC favourites will save their matches for the Stage 10 summit finish at Le Lioran.

Sources

• letour.fr Stage 8 ranking - letour.fr/en/stage-8
• letour.fr Stage 8 winner - Tim Merlier
• letour.fr combative prize - Lennert Slock