"We’ll go for it today and hopefully make you proud" - Tim Merlier blow as key lead-out man abandons Tour de France before sprint stage
Cycling
After the high mountains of stage 6 of the Tour de France, the sprinters will now have their say on Friday's stage. Olav Kooij took victory in his first-ever sprint at La Grand Boucle, and now Tim Merlier and Jasper Philipsen are queuing up for revenge.
Stage 5 saw the Decathlon CMA CGM rider soar to a resounding victory. Crashes did mar the finish and lead to a more reduced bunch contending the win, but the big lead-out trains of Alpecin - Premier Tech and Soudal Quick-Step were left disappointed by Kooij's explosive finish.
Merlier in particular would have been left disappointed, finishing in third place but some way short of Kooij. And ahead of a second opportunity on Friday, Tim Merlier has been dealt a vital blow as he vows to bounce back from the disappointment.
The blow comes in the form of Bert van Lerberghe abandoning the race on stage 6 with approximately 60 kilometers remaining. Although the nature of his abandonment is unclear, he had been involved in a crash in the final of the 5th stage.
However, one thing is for certain: Merlier will be without his right-hand man on Friday evening.
Merlier takes to social media after lead-out man abandons
The Belgian has come to be Merlier's final man in hectic sprint finishes over recent seasons. Forming a winning partnership, the pair have scooped up many victories together over recent seasons.
Taking to Instagram, Merlier said: "Tough days at the office. Sad to see Bert leave the Tour. We’ll go for it today and hopefully make you proud."
Finishing in Bordeaux, Friday's race takes in 175 kilometers and features just one major test to soften the legs of the fast men - a 1.4-kilometer category four climb with an average gradient of just less than percent. However, that tops with 38 kilometers to go, making it difficult for any attackers to keep sprint teams at bay.
Gavin QuinnCycling Journalist
Gavin Quinn is a cycling journalist and ultra-distance cyclist with a BA in Journalism from Dublin City University. Formerly the Press & Communications Officer for Cycling Ireland, Gavin has worked inside the national team at the World Championships and has reported for the Irish Mirror, Mirror UK, and The42.
His expertise is backed by elite-level access, having interviewed stars like Sam Bennett and Ben Healy, as well as immense personal endurance. In 2025, he completed a 12,000km solo cycle from Ireland to Vietnam, following a 4,600km tour across Europe. From the cobbles of Paris-Roubaix to the gradients of the Tourmalet, Gavin’s writing focuses on the "romance and brutality" of the sport. Having visited 50+ countries, he brings a global, cultural perspective to his coverage of the pro peloton for CyclingUpToDate.
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