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Simone Giuliani

'I was alone' – Door open for next Tour de France sprints with speed, but not luck, on Tim Merlier's side in Pau

PAU, FRANCE - JULY 08: Tim Merlier of Belgium and Team Soudal Quick-Step reacts after the 113th Tour de France 2026, Stage 5 a 158.3km stage from Lannemezan to Pau / #UCIWT / on July 08, 2026 in Pau, France. (Photo by Tim de Waele/Getty Images).

That run toward the line in Pau on stage 5 of the Tour de France was what Tim Merlier and his Soudal-QuickStep team had been waiting for. It was finally a sprint chance for the rider who won two stages of the 2025 edition and this year largely carries the hopes of his squad now that Remco Evenepoel has moved on.

Conserving energy through the tough opening stages, his team were switched on for Wednesday, doing their bit to make sure the break didn't spoil the sprint chance.

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