Almost stolen, then settled
The Dordogne nearly produced a heist. Liam Slock went solo out of the day's break — Thibault Guernalec and Jakub Otruba the other companions — and was still clear inside the final 2 kilometres before the sprint trains reeled him in at 1.3 to go.
The catch came so late the sprint was scrambled, and Tim Merlier looked boxed out of it entirely. Then he wasn't: a stunning comeback from a lost position, surging past Biniam Girmay and Olav Kooij to make it two wins in two days.
Two for two
Bordeaux on Friday, Bergerac on Saturday — Merlier's double confirmed him as the fastest man in this Tour, while Girmay's second consecutive podium kept the green jersey battle simmering. Tadej Pogačar finished safely in the bunch, 2:42 ahead of Vingegaard, one hilly day away from the first rest day.
Stage details on the stage 8 page — the whole race is on the Tour tracker.
