After a long breakaway with Baptiste Veistroffer (Lotto Intermarché) and Jakub Otruba (Caja Rural-Seguros RGA), the finish in Stage 7 of the 2026 Tour de France came down to a sprint finish where Tim Merlier won the bunch sprint. There should be no change in the General Classification.
Another Day for Sprinters
After they survived the final Pyrenees showdown, sprinters were eyeing their second opportunity of the Tour de France in Bordeaux, a couple of days after Olav Kooij’s victory in Pau.
The stage rolls out from the Landes village of Hagetmau, renowned for its expertise in chair and armchair manufacturing. Though the tour has passed through here before, it is the first time the village has been a host town. Today’s destination in Bordeaux, which has had 82 visits from the Tour.
The day started with the sad news that former maillot jaune Torstein Træen (Uno-X Mobility) would not start the race this morning. Træen crashed on the downhill from Col du Tourmalet during stage 6 and eventually reached the finish with a gap of 29’55” to Tadej Pogacar, winner at Gavarnie-Gèdre.
“Torstein passed the roadside concussion assessment after the crash and was able to continue,” his team reports. “However, following further assessment by the Uno-X Mobility medical staff, analysis of the data from his helmet sensor and x-rays in the medical truck, he has been diagnosed with a concussion and multiple rib fractures.”
“This is really not the ending we wanted for this yellow adventure,” says the team general manager Thor Hushovd in a press release. “Torstein has given the team a historic moment, and what he and the whole team have achieved these past days is something we will always be proud of. But after the further checks this evening, it was clear that he could not continue.”
The weather was mild at the start in Hagetmau, with a few clouds to temper the heat and keep temperatures just below 30°C. The skies will gradually clear throughout the day. The wind was expected to be very light, blowing from the side.
As soon as the flag dropped on the official start, Baptiste Veistroffer (Lotto Intermarché) immediately went on the attack, followed by Jakub Otruba (Caja Rural-Seguros RGA).
Veistroffer loves to go on breakaways, telling reporters this morning: “I’d love to go for it, but I’ve gathered that some teams don’t really want me at the front – though they’re not my team managers, so I’ll give it a go [laughs]; that’s just the way sport works. Above all, I don’t want there to be no breakaway on the Tour de France – that’s why I like being at the front. I might try to ride a bit slower than last time, as I’ve heard I was going too fast and that it scared people. Otherwise, it’s brilliant – there’s nothing better than being part of a breakaway on the Tour de France.”
While the peloton was content to let Veistroffer and Otruba go, they kept the leash tight, and the duo’s advantage only got as large as 1’25” in the early kilometers of the race.
Jasper Philipsen and Tim Merlier are touted as the main favourites for today’s stage, and they honour their status as their teams drive the bunch to try and ensure a bunch sprint in Bordeaux. Former teammates at Aplpecin-Fenix, the two are now sprint rivals.
At km 65, Uno-X Mobility accelerated, briefly bringing the gap down to 30 seconds, but calm soon returned.
Then it was Pedersen going on the attack with Abrahamsen, Campenaerts, Verstrynge, Guernalec and others. This seems like it was more of a move to get the sprint teams to the front of the peloton than an attempt to go after the breakaway duo. And it worked. The sprint teams were where they wanted to be and the gap to the leading duo opened up again. at km 87, the two lead by 1’35”.
With the intermediate sprint in Landiras (km 120.2) approaching, the peloton increased their pace. Veistroffer took the top points over Otruba, but back in the peloton, it was Mads Pedersen making the big effort, hitting over 70km/h, to outgun some dedicated sprinters to take the third place points.
Intermediate Sprint Results
- Veistroffer, 25 pts
- Otruba, 20 pts
- Pedersen, 16 pts
- Girmay, 14 pts
- Kanter, 12 pts
As the stage nears Bordeaux, the heat has cranked back up.
With a little over 50km to go, Veistroffer and Otruba have racked their pace back up, as the gap back to the peloton fell under 30 seconds.
The climb of the day. Côte de Béguey (1.2 km at 4.4%), was on tap for Baptiste Veistroffer (Lotto Intermarché) and Jakub Otruba (Caja Rural-Seguros RGA). They begin the climb with a 55 seconds lead.
Veistroffer took the KOM points. Matej Mohoric (Bahrain Victorious) accelerated on the ascent but his move was rapidly neutralised.
25km to go and the gap was 25 seconds.
Anders Skaarseth and Jonas Abrahamsen surprised the bunch and opened a small gap with 22 kilometres to go. Dylan van Baarle (Soudal Quick-Step) drove a strong chase. Skaarseth and Abrahamsen were reeled in, but the gap to the leaders was down to 10 seconds.
18km to go, and Veistroffer and Otruba sit up. What a day for them!
5km to go and the peloton is all together. Jasper Philipsen has a strong leadout team in place. Girmay was in there too. Pedersen as well and Merlier.
Philipsen kicked first, but far too early. Ultimately, it was Tim Merlier taking the win from the left side of the road.
Experience and Instinct
Merlier used his experience and instinct to navigate through the field in the closing 400 meters and charge through at the right moment, powering to his 73rd pro victory in Bordeaux, where current Soudal Quick-Step sports director Tom Steels also won back in 1999.
“I’m delighted to get another victory at the Tour! When I launched my sprint, I didn’t know how far it was. It was a mess to be in position, but I made it, thanks to the team, it was great work from them. After all the hard work two days ago and today, it feels good to know I could repay the guys. With 600 meters to go, I got boxed in, but told myself I would fight until the finish, and that’s what I did, managing to find some space. I’m really happy with this victory.”
2026 Tour de France: Stage 7 Brief Results
- Tim Merlier (Soudal Quick-Step) @ 3h 44’20”
- Soren Warerenskjold (Uno-X Mobility) s.t.
- Biniam Girmay (NSN) s.t.
- Max Kanter (XDS Astana) s.t
- Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Premier Tech) s.t.
2026 Tour de France: General Classification After Stage 7
- Tadej Pogacar (UAE Emirates XRG) @ 24h 56’17”
- Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-Lease a Bike), +2’42”
- Isaac del Toro (UAE Emirates XRG), +3’27”
- Remco Evenepoel (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe), +3’30”
- Juan Ayuso (Lidl-Trek), +3’34”
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