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Team Merleier powered to victory in a bunch sprint finishes on stage seven of the Tour de France as Tadez Pogacar retained the overall lead.
At the end of the 175.1km flat route from Hagatemau to Bordeaux, Norway’s Soren Werenskjold crossed the line in second and Eritrea’s Binyam Girme in third.
Belgium’s Merleer judged his effort to perfection in the final 100m, battling compatriot Jasper Philipsen and then having too much pace for his rivals.
“It was a mess to be in position, but I thanked the team,” Merlier said.
“With Alpesin we were the only team that rode the breakaway back, so I’m happy that it wasn’t another team that won. This is my third Tour de France. In every participation, I get a win, it makes me proud.”
Merlier’s previous three stage wins in cycling’s greatest race in 2021 and 2025.
In both years, Slovenia’s Pogača won the general classification and once again he remains the one to beat this time around.
After delivering a masterclass Thursday Col du TourmaletThere was little to trouble Pogakkar on Friday as he held a two minute and 38 second advantage over Jonas Wingard.
Pogakkar’s UAE Team Emirates-XRG teammate Isaac Del Toro was a further 45 seconds back in third.
Norway’s Torstein Train withdrew from the tour on Thursday after suffering a heavy crash while wearing the yellow jersey.
On Saturday, the race travels 180.4km from Perigueux to Bergerac on another day designed for sprint finishes.
