Winning a stage of the Tour de France is a career-defining moment. Winning two in a row is a stunning accomplishment. That’s what Merlier accomplished on Friday and Saturday, winning stage 7 and 8 back-to-back.
As huge as that accomplishment is on its own, the manner in which Merlier won Saturday’s stage makes it all the more stunning. The Belgian rider looked to be all but out of contention for the Stage 8 sprint when the race passed the 500m to go mark.
Even at 250m left, when the Soudal-Quick Step rider started to launch his sprint, it looked like an effort to gain positions. Alpecin-Premier Tech’s Jasper Philipsen was in perfect position, tucked safely behind Mathieu van der Poel in second wheel, just waiting to launch his killer move. Merlier still faced open road between himself and the front group.
Instead of Philipsen taking the easy win, Merlier went flying across the gap, continued on past the group and towards the finish line. Merlier took the win, his second in a row and fifth career Tour de France stage victory, in absolutely stunning fashion.
You can watch the entire thing from a perfect aerial view below.
“Jasper could not finish it off, once again.”
While the move from Merlier was glorious, his sensational sprint left others dealing with growing frustration. Not with the Belgian, whose envious effort was undeniably impressive. But from those left to settle for minor podium steps once again.
Biniam Girmay (NSN Cycling) followed while Decathlon’s Olav Kooij saw the move and went past Philipsen on the other side. That left Philipsen in fourth on a day that could have been a win.
Philip Roodhooft, APT’s General Manager, was not hiding his disappointment with the star sprinter.
“The lead out was good. Jasper could not finish it off, once again. Just like yesterday,” Roodhooft told SBS Sport after the stage. “Clearly the feeling that results out of that is disappointment. For him, for us, for the whole team.”
Pushed for an explanation, Roodhooft had little beyond replaying what happened on the road.
“It’s clear that he hesitated. After not winning yesterday there was some hesitation. Merlier came from behind with a lot of speed and when Jasper started it was already too late.”
Philipsen will have to wait a few days before he has a chance to redeem himself. The Tour de France heads into the hills, if not quite the mountains, for a heat-shorted Stage 9 on Sunday.