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Cycling Weekly
Cycling Weekly
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Adam Becket

'You start to be scared... there aren't a lot of opportunities' – Tim Merlier defeats 'pressure' to deliver at sprinter-unfriendly Tour de France

Tim Merlier Tour Tour de France Bert Van Lerberghe
Tim Merlier sprints at the 2026 Tour de France.

As he crossed the line in Bordeaux first on stage seven of the 2026 Tour de France on Friday, there was enormous relief for Tim Merlier.

The Soudal Quick-Step rider didn't scream, get carried away, that's not his style; instead, he dusted off both shoulders, as if he'd had an intense case of dandruff halfway through the day.

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