Back-to-back sprint wins for Merlier at Tour de France

Belgian Tim Merlier claimed his second straight Tour de France sprint stage win on Saturday, as the Soudal ​Quick-Step rider pulled off another last-second attack in stage eight of the ‌race.

Merlier, who won stage seven with a similar late surge on Friday, waited till the last 400 metres to make his move. His raw power was enough to carry him past Jasper ​Philipsen, Biniam Girmay and others who had positioned themselves for the sprint ​finish.

Four-time champion Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) retained his overall lead after ⁠the flat 180.4-km ride from Perigueux to Bergerac, while Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-Lease a Bike) ​stayed second in the race for the yellow jersey, 2 minutes and 42 seconds ​off the lead.

"Just before the last corner I was a bit boxed in, then I almost crashed — I thought it was over... With 250m to go I say, 'I'll give it a ​try and we will see'," said 33-year-old Merlier.

Eritrean Girmay (NSN) finished second in the ​stage, while Merlier's compatriot Philipsen (Alpecin-Premier Tech) came in fourth behind stage five winner Olav Kooij.

Thibault Guernalec, Jakub ‌Otruba ⁠and Liam Slock made an early breakaway while the general classification contenders stayed back in the peloton.

Belgian Slock (Lotto-Intermarche), who made his Grand Tour debut at the Vuelta a Espana last year, launched an attack during the climb to Buisson de Cadouin ​and took a solo ​lead with about ⁠40km left.

-Reuters