Tim Merlier doubles up to win stage eight of Tour de France in sprint finish

Belgium's Tim Merlier celebrates on the podium. Thibault Camus/AP

Tim Merlier doubled up to win stage eight of the Tour de France in a sprint finish and break the heart of lone escapee Liam Slock in Bergerac.

Slock, who had gone clear with 40 kilometres of the 180km stage from Perigueux remaining, was caught just before the flamme rouge before another big show of strength from Merlier delivered a second stage win in as many days, while Tadej Pogacar stayed safe in the yellow jersey.

In similar scenes to Friday’s stage into Bordeaux, Jasper Philipsen got a big leadout from Alpecin-Premier Tech team-mate Mathieu van der Poel but could not convert it into victory as Soudal-QuickStep’s Merlier came from way back to power his way to the line.

With around 400 metres to go, the Belgian was several bike lengths back after a sharp right-hander and needed to close a short gap to get near to Philipsen, but his momentum carried him all the way to the line.

“It didn’t feel (easy),” the Belgian said. “I needed to fight for my position all the time until the last minute. Before the corner I was a bit boxed in and then I almost crashed so I thought it was over.

“But I was coming with so much speed, I saw 250 metres to go and I gave it a try to the finish and we’ll see. In the last 50 metres I couldn’t push anymore, it was a really difficult effort.

“If you can win one you can win a second and I’m happy.” Biniam Girmay took second and stage five winner Olav Kooij was third as Philipsen had to settle for a disappointing fourth place.

Slock had threatened to rip up the script as he rode clear of fellow breakaway riders Jakub Otruba and Thibault Guernalec on the second of the day’s two categorised climbs.

Although his advantage was never much more than around 90 seconds, he fought stubbornly to hold it and was still a minute ahead with 10 kilometres left before running out of gas on the streets of Bergerac.

A second consecutive sprint finish made for another more relaxed day for Pogacar and the rest of the general classification hopefuls.

Pogacar, aiming for a record-equalling fifth Tour de France crown, continues to lead by two minutes 42 seconds from rival Jonas Vingegaard, with Pogacar’s UAE Team Emirates-XRG team-mate Isaac del Toro three minutes 27 seconds down in third, three seconds ahead of Remco Evenepoel.