Tim Merlier wins stage 8 of Tour de France as Pogacar retains yellow jersey

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Tadej Pogacar untroubled in overall lead Merlier produces superb sprint for second day Tim Merlier sprinted to his second victory in this year’s Tour de France, on stage eight, from Périgueux to Bergerac. But it was cruel luck for Liam Slock, of the Lotto Intermarché team, whose 175km solo effort ended 1,300 metres from the finish line. On a perfect stage for lovers of pale-stoned chateaux and crystalline swimming pools, the Tour leader, Tadej Pogacar, rode untroubled into Bergerac pondering the possibilities of adding to his growing tally of mid-summer murders. The Slovenian already appears to have killed off his rivalry with Jonas Vingegaard and with Mondaya rest day, will now be planning the strategy to ensure teammate, Isaac Del Toro, leapfrogs the Dane into second place. Continue reading...

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Belgian rider Tim Merlier won the eighth stage of the Tour de France in a sprint finish to claim back-to-back-stage victories, while defending champion Tadej Pogacar kept the race leader's yellow jersey on Saturday. Four-time champion Pogacar finished in the main pack along with two-time champion Jonas Vingegaard and maintained his overall lead of 2 minutes, 42 seconds over his main rival. Pogacar’s teammate Isaac del Toro is third.